Regardless if it’s a large apartment fire, or a single-family home fire, we are there to help
The American Red Cross is working closely with government and community partners to care for 70 people in the Charleston area who were displaced by three apartment fires and two single family home fires this weekend.
Saturday afternoon, more than 20 Red Crossers helped 44 people displaced by a fire at EME Apartments on James Island. Volunteers provided immediate assistance to the families at the scene of the fire, including opening a shelter for those who needed a hot meal, a safe place to sleep, and other services. The shelter is now closed but the Red Cross is continuing to assist the families.
Sunday morning, the Red Cross responded to an apartment fire at the Legend Oaks neighborhood in Summerville and has helped eight people who were displaced from their homes, providing emergency assistance to them. Last night the Red Cross helped 15 people displaced by a fire at Summer Pines Apartments in Summerville. Also, volunteers helped three people who suffered from a single family home fire Sunday evening.
The Red Cross and partners also worked together to protect families from home fires this weekend. Teaming with firefighters from North Charleston Fire Department, Red Cross volunteers installed more than 250 smoke alarms in the Charleston Farms neighborhood and taught the families about how they can protect themselves from home fires.
The Red Cross would like to thank all of the volunteers, partners, and supporters who stepped up to help our friends and neighbors this weekend, many of whom lost everything in these tragic fires. It takes more than one person or organization to help families after home fires and this weekend the community came together. The Red Cross worked with emergency responders and government partners, including Charleston Fire Department, James Island PSD Fire Department, North Charleston Fire Department, St. Andrews Fire Department, Old Fort Fire Department, Summerville, SC Fire & Rescue, Charleston County Emergency Management Department, Charleston County EMS, City of Charleston, SC Government, Charleston County School District, Charleston County Department of Social Services, James Island Recreation Complex, and City of Charleston Police Department, to respond to these incidents and provide emergency assistance. In addition, the Red Cross is working with community partners, including Goodwill Industries International, Inc., Lowcountry Food Bank, and Catholic Charities to help the families begin the recovery process. Thank you to Chick-fil-A James Island and McDonald's for donating meals.
Help people affected by disasters like home fires and countless other crises by making a gift to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift 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, calling 1-800-RED-CROSS, or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.