Fire

As the weather turns colder, the risk factors for house fires increase, especially as the holidays approach. These fires, from Thanksgiving through January 1, typically injure thousands and wreak $500 million in property damage across the United States.

Below is one family’s story about the importance of being prepared. It was originally published in the Fall ‘09 edition of Commitments.

Emergency plan keeps family safe

I’m just glad we had a plan,” Heather said. “It probably saved our lives.”

Heather Howell and her two daughters, Jordyn, 10, and Alyssa, 8, lived in their home for six years until it came crashing down because of a kitchen fire. Fortunately, they had two things working in their favor: they had a plan and Red Cross was on the scene.

Heather had reviewed with the girls how to take action during a fire if there ever was one in their south Wichita home. She had shown her children how to tell if a fire was behind a door with the back side of your hand and told them where to go after they got out of the house. “How will we know when there’s a fire?” the girls asked. “You’ll just know,” Heather replied. On April 9, a grease fire overwhelmed the kitchen and eventually the house. Heather was frantic, yet the girls were calm and prepared. Heather’s hands shook so badly she could barely call 911. Unruffled, Alyssa and Jordyn marched out of the house with their bags and puppy within seconds of noticing the smoke.

“The girls knew exactly what to do and how to do it,” Heather said.

Police barricaded the street as the fire department tried to extinguish the blaze. The family watched their home burn down from the bumper of a fire truck. They lost virtually everything, but Heather reassured the girls that everything would be okay. When asked if they needed Red Cross, a neighbor insisted they get help.

That evening, Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers arrived to help Heather and the girls recover. The DAT volunteers worked as a team with one talking with Heather to get her the assistance she needed while the other walked through the rubble evaluating the destruction. Because they lost everything, the Red Cross provided then family with more than $3,000 in assistance to get back on their feet.

Now, thanks to the Red Cross, the girls live in a new home within walking distance to their school. And when they went back to school, they wore new clothes purchased with Red Cross donations. They’re still meeting their new neighbors and still practicing their family escape plan. Aside from a few charred keepsakes, Heather, Alyssa and Jordyn have little to show from the traumatic experience just five months ago.

“The Red Cross was awesome. I didn’t realize they did so much,” Heather said. “They provided us with immediate help.”