On September 3, 2021, a Greenville, South Carolina resident was awoken from sleep by what she thought was a nightmare about a home fire she experienced during her childhood. As she became aware of her surroundings, she realized that her current home was on fire. A grease fire had destroyed most of her and her boyfriend’s kitchen, including their appliances and her antique glass collection. 

Still overwhelmed by the events of that night, Jay’s voice was full of emotion as she recalled the damage of the grease fire and the actions of the local first responders and American Red Cross team members.

“The grease took over our entire kitchen, our refrigerator, stove, washer, and dryer are gone... Even though I knew the fire destroyed everything, it was comforting to know that the Red Cross was there for me,” Jay conveyed. “The caseworker made sure we had money for a hotel and food before the fire department even left the scene.”

While Jay and her boyfriend will eventually be able to return to their home, at the time of the interview, they were still living in a hotel and working with a Red Cross caseworker to assess their needs moving forward. 

Sadly, fires like this one are more common than you might think. The Red Cross of South Carolina responds to six home fires every day, on average. People like Jay and her boyfriend look to the Red Cross of South Carolina for assistance in their time of need. Assistance that is made possible through generous donations ensuring the Red Cross will continue its mission for years to come. 

Become a Hometown Hero and help people like Jay in your community recover from devastating home fires. Your gift provides financial assistance so families can pay for their immediate needs such as food, clothes, personal care items, and hotel stays. Help families get back on their feet by giving the gift of a second chance: redcross.org/hometownhero.  

STAY SAFE FROM HOME FIRES Visit redcross.org/fire for more information or download the free Red Cross Emergency app (search “American Red Cross” in app stores).

Test your smoke alarms monthly.

• Place smoke alarms on each level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.
• Change the batteries at least once a year if your model requires it.
• Check the manufacturer’s date of your smoke alarms. They need to be replaced if they’re ten years or older because the sensor becomes less sensitive over time. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Practice your escape plan until everyone can get out in less than two minutes.

• Include at least two ways to exit every room in your home.
• Select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone knows to meet.
• Teach children what a smoke alarm sounds like. Talk about fire safety and what to do in an emergency.