Here’s how to help families who lost everything in Saturday’s apartment fire

An apartment fire destroyed 24 units and displaced multiple families over the weekend, but Dallas agencies and Lake Highlands volunteers are already rallying to assist the residents and get them back on their feet.

Dallas Fire and Rescue responded to the four alarm fire around 1 a.m. Saturday morning at the Vineyard at Forest Edge near Forest and Audelia and reported on Twitter finding fire coming through the roof. They quickly evacuated residents and began fighting the blaze, which was extinguished just after 2 a.m. A security guard was treated for minor injuries sustained while alerting people about the fire, but no one had major injuries.

The mother of a 7-year-old boy told investigators her son started the fire while playing with a lighter inside the closet, WFAA reported.

Several of the displaced families are preparing to send their children back to RISD schools this week, but all of their school clothes and school supplies – everything they own – has been lost. One couple, at the hospital to give birth to their baby, lost all of the baby’s bedding, clothing and other items, in addition to the couple’s other goods.

If you’d like to help, the Lake Highlands Public Improvement District is collecting gift cards and new baby supplies at their offices, 8676 Skillman behind McDonald’s. Items may be dropped off between 9:30 and 4:30 until Aug. 15.