Monday, June 23, 2025, is a day the residents of Cleveland’s Rainbow Terrace Apartments in the Garden Valley neighborhood will not soon forget. An explosion caused a fire that impacted 44 units and displaced more than 120 residents, triggering a massive response from the Cleveland Division of Fire and the American Red Cross of Northern Ohio.

The region’s disaster action team volunteers were on scene within hours of the initial explosion, coordinating with community partners and first responders to assist residents who were directly impacted. Later that same night, the Red Cross opened a shelter at the Zelma Watson George Recreation Center, just blocks away from the Rainbow Terrace Apartment complex, for residents who needed a place to stay.

On Tuesday, June 24, Red Cross volunteers began their work, talking with residents and determining how the Red Cross could provide assistance. More than 120 residents were directly impacted by the Garden Valley Apartment fire, most of whom were displaced for a period of time. The Red Cross provided more than $26,000 in direct financial assistance to the residents. In addition to financial assistance and shelter, generous community partners joined the Red Cross and provided meals and snacks for residents and firefighters in the days after the fire.

The Red Cross continues to work with residents impacted by this fire, as volunteers help residents connect with local resources to help in their recovery. This help is free and only possible because of the generosity of the American public and the dedication of our disaster volunteers. Many people don’t realize that home fires are the most common disaster the Red Cross of Northern Ohio responds to, with an average of three home fires happening in the region every day.

In addition to home fires, Red Cross volunteers are responding to more natural disasters across the country, as these disasters happen more frequently with greater intensity. Because of all of this work, the Red Cross has an increased need for more disaster volunteers to help locally and around the country. To learn more about this important role and sign up, follow  this link. And thanks to these community partners for their help in this response.