Christopher Trevino’s mother was getting ready for work as he woke up to start the day. Soon, a burning smell crept into their unit at the Stone Manor apartments in Northwest Dallas near Love Field Airport.

They assumed it was a neighbor cooking, but as Trevino’s mother opened the door to leave, she saw a raging fire across the complex.  Dallas Fire-Rescue responded quickly, and they hoped the worst was over as firefighters battled to contain the blaze.

Suddenly, the wind picked up, and the fire spread rapidly from four units to 18. As Trevino and his family evacuated, he could not leave behind his beloved cats Luna, Candy, Willow and Traviesa. The sirens blared, frightening the cats, who hid out of reach. Unfortunately, Trevino had to make the difficult choice to leave his cats behind and hope they survive.

Trevino and his family stood outside for two hours, watching in horror as the flames engulfed his neighbors' homes. As the fire crept closer to his apartment, Trevino hoped it would stop. Thankfully, Dallas Fire-Rescue was able to contain the fire and save Trevino’s home. 

As a City of Dallas employee, Trevino’s mother knew what resources would be available for her family. That knowledge helped her learn about the American Red Cross shelter open at the Bachman Recreation Center for displaced residents to stay and receive immediate assistance.

“It’s all overwhelming being in a situation like this,” Trevino said. “I am Red Cross trained in safety, but I just never imagined I would be on the other side of receiving help from you all.”

Around 6:00 p.m., Trevino was able to return home. The unit above them caught fire, which caused smoke damage to their unit. The air was thick with the smell of smoke, but he was able to retrieve his cats. Trevino and his family cradled the panicked and scared cats, ensuring the worst was over. Unfortunately, Trevino and his family are no strangers to disasters.

“This is the second time I’ve lost my clothes to an apartment disaster,” he said.

In 2019, when an EF-3 tornado tore through Dallas, Trevino lived in the same complex but in a different unit. In the aftermath of the tornado there was extensive damage to the sewer, causing Trevino additional hardships as water damaged many of his belongings.

“My coworkers were a Godsent,” Trevino said. “They did their best to purchase food and blankets for my cats. And [the Red Cross has] been so welcoming since we arrived [at the shelter].”