Donna and her son, Jacob, were excited to move into their new apartment after a
fire destroyed their previous home.
By: Michael Bowman
A home fire can be a traumatic experience for families. The impact can be especially difficult for children.
On May 12th, 2026, Donna Broyles, her husband Scott, and eleven-year-old son Jacob were in their first-floor apartment in Little Rock, Arkansas, when a fire broke out two floors above. As the blaze rapidly spread throughout the complex, the Broyles apartment and everything inside it was devastated.
“The fire broke out and came into our apartment and destroyed it,” said Donna. “And we had nothing.”
The sudden impact of losing their apartment and belongings to a fire left Donna and her family with mixed emotions. Though thankful their family was safe from the fire’s destruction, Donna and her husband were overwhelmed by the uncertainty of what’s next. Within minutes, the place the Broyles family called home for ten years was gone. They had lost all their possessions and were left with nowhere to stay. The sudden loss of everything was difficult for everyone, especially their young son. “Jacob was crying and actually trembling,” said Donna. “He was worried and scared.”
Jacob still has the bear given to him by the Red Cross, a reminder of kindness and reassurance that “everything was going to be okay.”
While the apartment complex was still smoldering, the apartment manager turned to the American Red Cross for help. In less than an hour, Red Cross volunteers arrived at the apartment office, ready to assist Donna and her family during this difficult and uncertain time. “They were there, Johnny on the spot,” said Donna.
While the Broyles family were still trying to process everything, Red Cross volunteers stepped in with compassion and care. They provided them with warm blankets, arranged for a safe place to stay, and made sure their young son Jacob had snacks and a teddy bear to hold. But most of all, Red Cross volunteers gave Jacob reassurance he and his family would be cared for. “We're going to make sure you're okay.” For Jacob, those words meant everything. “They just really made him feel at peace, that everything was going to be okay,” said Donna.
Donna is grateful that her family made it through the fire unharmed and for the outpouring of support they received. She credits the Red Cross with helping her family find comfort and hope when they needed it most.
“They were very available, supportive, and were very comforting, making sure that if there was anything that we needed, they were there to provide it for us. It was a very positive experience for our family.”
Today, things are returning to normal for the Broyles family. Thanks to the tireless efforts of apartment managers, they are now living in a bigger and better apartment. Most importantly, Donna, Scott, and Jacob are together and safe. And Jacob still has the bear given to him by the Red Cross, a reminder of kindness and reassurance that “everything was going to be okay.”
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