GRANDVIEW PLAZA (KSNT) – Just two days after a fire displaced dozens of residents at the Geary Estates Apartments in Grandview Plaza, donations have filled the Grandview Plaza Community Center as local organizations work to help families begin the recovery process.
The fire started just before 6 p.m. Saturday after a lightning strike hit the apartment building in the 900 block of Cannonview Lane, according to Grandview Plaza Fire Chief Jeremy Bramwell. Dispatchers received reports of smoke filling hallways, and responding officers reported smoke coming from the roof.
Firefighters from Grandview Plaza, Junction City, Geary County and Fort Riley responded to the scene. The Kansas State Fire Marshal later determined the fire was caused by a lightning strike. Crews were able to keep the fire confined to the roof area and parts of the third floor, though officials reported significant water damage throughout the building.
The American Red Cross and Fort Riley Family Assistance Center stepped in to help residents displaced by the fire, while local organizations quickly began organizing donation efforts.
At the Grandview Plaza Community Center on Monday, Sept. 21, volunteers sorted through clothing, food, hygiene products and other essentials donated by community members. Students from HD Karns Innovations Academy were among those helping organize items for affected families.
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Nichole Mader, executive director of United Way of Junction City and Geary County, said support started pouring in almost immediately after the fire.
“The outpouring of love and support has been absolutely amazing,” Mader said. “The fire was Saturday night. By Sunday, the stuff you see here, this was like 24 hours.”
Mader said many of the residents impacted by the fire are military families. She said those families have been placed in temporary housing through assistance from the Red Cross and other community partners.
“A lot of the families were either military, a majority of them were military,” Mader said. “Red Cross has stepped in and they’re in temporary placements, whether that’s hotels, whether that’s something on Fort Riley.”
While immediate housing needs are being addressed, Mader said local organizations are now focusing on longer-term recovery efforts.
“We want to be able to meet those needs,” Mader said.
Because of the large volume of donations already received, organizers have temporarily paused physical donations while volunteers sort and organize items. Mader said financial donations remain one of the biggest needs moving forward.
“We have activated our community relief fund,” Mader said. “If people would like to donate, they can go to our website, they can go on our Facebook page, and they can donate directly to our community relief fund so that we can be able to offer financial assistance to the families that have been impacted.”
Grandview Plaza Police Chief Korie Martin said community members began showing up with donations almost as soon as news of the fire spread.
“The minute that the fire started, people from all over were flooding in with anything and everything that they could provide,” Martin said.
Martin said many families will face a long road ahead as they work to replace belongings lost in the fire.
“A lot of families are going to be starting from brand new,” Martin said. “They’re going to be starting from nothing.”
Despite the challenges ahead, both Martin and Mader said the community response has been encouraging.
“Our community always steps up,” Martin said. “We have one of the strongest, most loving communities out there.”
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United Way has activated its Community Relief Fund to support families affected by the fire. The organization is also seeking volunteers to help sort donations and assist with ongoing recovery efforts.
People wanting to sign up to help with volunteer efforts can do so by clicking here. You can make financial donations to United Way of Junction City/Geary County by calling 785-238-2117 or by clicking here.
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