By Brian Szabelski, American Red Cross

In the late morning of July 29, 2024, the Alexander Mountain Fire ignited in the terrain west of Fort Collins, Colo. What started as a 100-acre fire near the Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch would eventually grow to nearly 10,000 acres over the next two weeks and destroy more than two dozen homes.

Jen Hoctor-Ballard, a board member of the American Red Cross of Mile High, was one of those affected by the fast-burning fire. Like many of her neighbors, she was left without time to grab important and irreplaceable belongings from their mountain residence before the fire swept through their neighborhood, burning so hot that it incinerated most of what was in its direct path.

"We got photos from Larimer County, and our steel roof was on the ground," Jen said. All that was left of the two-story home now only filled the crawl space of what had been their mountain getaway.

Many of Jen's neighbors lost their residences and everything inside in the Alexander Mountain Fire.

"For weeks to come, we helped others and others helped us sift through debris and see what we could salvage," she said. 

At the time, Jen was serving on the Mile High chapter's associate board, and the Red Cross response to the Alexander Mountain Fire touched her. From offering shelter for those displaced, to creating a resource center that helped match community partners to needs, to even being able to supply saline solution for those who had contacts but weren't able to evacuate with any, Jen could see the impact of the Red Cross mission everywhere. 

"Seeing that van pull up and people say, 'How can we help provide you with supplies to help with clean up efforts of your home?'" Jen said. "The organization is very cognizant of giving where the need is. But then, also, seeing people giving people hugs and saying, 'We’re here for you, and however we can help you through this tragedy' was just very meaningful to me."

Jen hasn't been the only member of her family affected by fire. Years ago, Jen's brother was renting a home in the Houston area and realized the property didn't have any smoke detectors, so he installed one. The decision proved lifesaving when a home fire broke out not long after, the new alarm alerting him to the danger and allowing him to get out safely. 

Inspired by her brother's experience and her own, Jen has made sure to put aside time this year to be involved in Red Cross Home Fire Campaign efforts, both in Arvada, Colo., and a Sound the Alarm event in Greeley, Colo.

"I hadn't had the opportunity to volunteer at one of those before," Jen said, "but it reminded me how important something like a smoke detector is for urban home fires. It can truly save lives."

And with the holidays coming up, Jen said that now is the time to make it a topic of conversation. 

"Ask your loved ones, and if they're elderly, ask if you can come over and check them," Jen said. "Or the next time you’re in their house, just look around and see, 'Do they have smoke detectors in their house? When was the last they tested them?'"

“I think that’s a way that anyone can protect their friends and family members from a devastating home fire.” 

For more on the Red Cross of Colorado's home fire campaign, visit https://www.redcross.org/local/colorado/about-us/our-work/home-fire-safety.html. If you're interested in helping your local community as part of Red Cross efforts, visit https://www.redcross.org/volunteer/become-a-volunteer.html