By Kaitlyn Connolly, American Red Cross

On the morning of March 28, John Miller woke to a fire alarm that at first felt routine. Having lived at the Wiley School Apartments in Salisbury for nearly a decade, he was used to the occasional alarm caused by cooking smoke. That morning was different.

“I’m usually up by 5 a.m. anyway,” Miller said. “When the alarm didn’t stop and I heard firefighters banging on doors on the second floor, I knew it was serious.”

Miller was among some of the residents who managed to leave the building on their own around 6 a.m. Many others were still asleep and had to be rescued by firefighters as smoke and flames spread. Standing outside, Miller watched first responders work tirelessly to get everyone to safety.

“This was my first real emergency like this,” he said. “Watching the firefighters do what they do was incredible.”

The fire displaced more than 60 residents, leaving many without homes overnight. The American Red Cross responded immediately and is currently sheltering around 20 people affected by the fire. As recovery continues, the Red Cross expects to continue helping individuals and families begin rebuilding. Assistance includes financial help for immediate needs such as food, clothing, and temporary housing, as well as referrals to additional community resources.

Miller has been staying at the Red Cross shelter in Salisbury and says the support has been overwhelming in the best possible way.

“The Red Cross is wonderful. It’s hard to put into words,” he said. “This is a traumatic experience, but they’re meeting our immediate needs and giving emotional support too. The challenge is not getting too comfortable leaning on that help, even though it’s there when you need it.”

Miller also faces physical challenges. He has scoliosis and a fused spine, which makes mobility difficult. Sleeping on a cot was painful, but the Red Cross worked with Rowan Helping Ministries to provide him with a medical bed.

“That bed was a world of difference,” he said. “It met an individual need I had outside of the group, and that meant everything.”

Through loss and uncertainty, Miller says the compassion shown by volunteers has left a lasting impact.

“Most of you are volunteers, and that means the world to us,” he said. “Whether we can express it or not, it matters.”

As the community begins the long process of recovery, stories like Miller’s highlight not only the trauma left behind by the fire, but also the resilience and humanity that emerge in its aftermath.