Red Cross Continuing To Aid Victims of Brighton Avenue Fire

As crews continue to remove debris from the Brighton Avenue lot where three building destroyed in Monday's fire used to stand, the Red Cross is continuing to help out the victims.

American Red Cross South Jersey Region Director of Community Relations Laura Steinmetz said 11 families were displaced and seven of them were relocated to local hotels. The other seven families were able to find other accommodations.

On Friday, Steinmatz said some of the families that were still staying in hotels were given extended stays.

She said the Red Cross will give them plenty of time to find other accommodations and will also refer them to other organizations that can help find places for them to live or stay.

The outpouring of generosity has continued in Long Branch as well.

The West End Stop & Shop has donated 14 $100 gift cards to the residents and business owners who lost everything in the fire.

Stop & Shop donated 14 $100 gift cards for the West End fire victims on Wednesday morning.

"American Red Cross has presented each of their West End fire clients with the Stop and Shop Gift Cards and thanked Stop and Shop for their generous donation and outreach to the fire victims," Steinmatz said in a release. "We look forward to future community outreach partnering with Stop and Shop."

Steinmatz said if anyone is interested in making a donation to American Red Cross, they can do so online at www.jerseycoast-redcross.org or by calling 732-493-9100.

Life Goes On For Others:

Life for most business owners around the buildings has returned to normal as gas and electricity was restored on Wednesday.

However, although the building was not destroyed, a fourth building, directly east of the fire area, sustained heavy damage.

The windows for Universal Graphics are boarded up, and the future for the building is still unclear as the side of it suffered fire and water damage.

Time will tell what the business building owners will decide to do with the lots, but Long Branch Business Administrator Howard Woolley said he spoke with several of them and they expressed a desire to rebuild.