Deadly Boise apartment fire: Victim identified

BOISE, Idaho (KBOI) — The Red Cross of Idaho has started turning its gears after a deadly fire started in a Boise apartment complex Saturday afternoon.

The fire started on the third floor of the Arbor Crossing apartment complex in Boise. Boise firefighters worked into the night to put out the flames.

Not only did the fire take the life of one resident, but it also displaced 69 residents, 29 of them being children, according to the Red Cross.

Firefighters were called to the scene to put out the fire, but Red Cross volunteers were called to help as well.

"Before we even got home, I got a call from the burnout fund saying there was a fire, and giving me a heads up," said Linda Raine, a Red Cross volunteer.

The burnout fund is a group of retired firefighters that alert the Red Cross of fires in the area.

Immediately after getting the call, Raine gathered her disaster relief volunteer team. The Red Cross team met with residents in the apartment complex leasing office.

"And there were a lot of people in there because that's where all the families were coming to meet and it was really cold outside, so we tried to get anybody that we could and we handed out some blankets, and snacks and water and then went through the process of helping each family and each client," Raine said.

The team even handed out toiletries and debit cards so the displaced families could get by.

Raine is touched by how grateful all the resident were for any help they received.

"They're all extremely grateful; you know this is all volunteer money, we rely on volunteers to donate to help these families so if you don't feel like you can get out and respond to a fire or come in and work at blood services... any donation helps, anything helps, and they're very grateful for anything you can do," Raine said tearfully.

Raine says the Red Cross is now focusing on making sure the families have a place to stay and are helping some find new housing. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The ADA County coroner's officer has identified the woman killed in the fire as 45-year-old Wendy Comfort. Her cause of death has not been determined.

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