By: Suzanne Lawler, Regional Communications Manager

On one of the most joyous days of the year, a nightmare unfolded on Bouldercrest Road in Conley, Georgia. As Christine Nelson cooked dinner Christmas evening, flames that began in the backyard spread rapidly, gutting the family's home and changing their lives in minutes.

Thankfully, everyone made it out safely. The Nelsons and their five children watched helplessly as the fire grew larger, unable to extinguish it as it spread across the grass and engulfed everything in its path.

"We have a leaf pile right next to the shed," Christine explained. "We've been here for seven years, and we never had an issue."

Christine's husband, Elijah, gathered up boxes and wrapping paper and did what he had done so many times before, lit the refuse.

"My husband got distracted. He was in my daughter's room putting up her TV, and he could see the fire through the window," Christine recalled. "My daughter yelled, 'The shed is on fire!' and she screamed. We had some propane tanks, so they caught fire and let out gas."

The Nelsons had two RVs, and the flames soon jumped to one of them.

"Once it caught the RV on fire, the fire started rolling. Then it hit the house, spread upstairs, and destroyed everything," Christine said somberly.

The Red Cross responds to around 65,000 disasters a year across the U.S., most of which are home fires. Disaster Action Team members are available around the clock to provide direct assistance, comfort kits and recovery planning to help families meet their immediate needs. Christine said the Red Cross representative who came to their aid offered guidance, solace and hope.

"They were here before the fire was even extinguished," she said. "He was so helpful with the children because they were crying and distraught. Every time one of them got upset, he had a teddy bear or a snack — something to comfort them. It was so helpful because I was in shock. I didn't know what I was doing."

The Christmas tree still stands in the living room, a haunting reminder of the day the family will never forget. Most of the beams supporting the home are blackened and the children's beds are now useless pieces of metal.

Christine understands more than most the importance of a home as a cornerstone of a family's security. She works for the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.

"I rehouse the homeless community," she explained. "Without a home, there's nothing. Once you have stable housing, everything else falls into place."

Even with decades of experience in housing, a traumatic event can make anyone feel lost. With the immense burden weighing on her and her husband's shoulders, Christine said the Red Cross responder gently guided them through the next steps after the disaster.

"I didn't know about temporary housing." She said the volunteer who came to the scene told her that since she had insurance, she should contact her insurance company.

In most cases, an insurance company can't act within minutes or even hours after a disaster. But thanks to generous donors, the Red Cross can help bridge the gap.

"That night, we used the funds from the Red Cross to secure a place to stay. It was a blessing because we really didn’t know what to do. We had just spent all our money on Christmas," Christine recalled.

That is only just the beginning. Volunteer caseworkers and counselors help families in the days and weeks following an initial visit.  

"The service was outstanding,” said Christine. And it continued with “ladies who helped with my medication and my daughter's lupus medication and glasses." Today, the Nelsons have stability. Their insurance company placed them in temporary housing, but the future of their beloved two-story navy home is uncertain due to the fire damage and the home's age.

"This house is a 1932 historic home," Christine said proudly. "When we first bought it, there were boards on the windows. It was unlivable."

The family bought the home in 2016 and worked tirelessly to restore it.

"Me, my husband, and my kids would be in this house with just an icebox, sandwiches, and drinks. We'd stay from the time the kids got out of school until sundown, doing repairs," Christine reminisced. "My kids picked the colors of their rooms, and we painted them together. Everything was a family effort. Now the insurance company says they may have to tear the house down, which makes it even more emotional for me. My hands, my labor, my time all went into making this house livable for my babies."

Only time will tell if the family of seven will ever call Bouldercrest Road home again. But Christine is standing strong, thanks in part to the Red Cross.

"The Red Cross did an outstanding job helping us through the first steps. I feel like without them, I might have lost it.” Christine says she was at a breaking point, but the Red Cross responder gave her a “little bit of hope to keep going to the next day, the next stage. That’s why I’m still here today."

Every eight minutes, the Red Cross responds to a disaster in the community. That’s why the American Red Cross launched the nationwide Home Fire Campaign in 2014, which aims to reduce home fire deaths and injuries by 25%.

Home Fire Campaign Saves Lives

Since October 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, in partnership with community organizations, has saved at least 2,266 lives—including 255 in Georgia—by educating families about fire safety, helping them create escape plans, and installing free smoke alarms in high-risk areas across the country. To learn more or get involved, visit redcross.org/homefires.

How to Help

You can help people affected by disasters and other crises by donating to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your contribution enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to, and help people recover from disasters, big and small.

People can donate by visiting redcross.org/donate, calling 1-800-RED-CROSS, or texting REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross provides shelter, food, and comfort to disaster victims; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the public to fulfill its mission. For more information, visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow the Red Cross on social media.