Red Cross Steps Up When Disaster Strikes

Veteran firefighters state with certainty that the worse fire for them to fight is a mobile home fire. A fire moves quickly through the structure, making it important that the people inside get out quickly. Secondly, the home is usually a total loss.

Thursday March 24 after 9:10PM the Friendship Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire on County Road 17. A residential trailer was involved with smoke and flames showing. The Red Cross responded along with three other fire companies. No one could go back to the trailer due to the damage.

The Red Cross volunteers on scene provided the family with a Client Assistance Card, which the family was able to use for food, since it was all damaged in the fire. The Red Cross also provided comfort kits for each member of the family containing essential toiletries, and stuffed animals were provided for the children. The Red Cross provided a referral to the pharmacy to replace vital prescriptions and the nebulizer that was lost in the fire. Members of the Red Cross Disaster Action Team also provided referrals to other agencies to assist in their recovery, along with written information on family fire recovery. The family had relatives that could house them for the evening, so the Red Cross did not have to provide temporary shelter, though contacts to hotels had already begun.

The Red Cross responded with a well-trained, local disaster response team that gave comfort and solace when it was needed the most. Like a volunteer firefight, the Red Cross stands ready to assist any hour of the day and night. Thanks to generous support from Allegany County United Way, we are ready to help.