Story told by: Fernanda Nilson, Red Cross Volunteer

In November of 2025, Tina Martin and her mother woke up to find their Belton, South Carolina, home on fire. 

“We got up at 8 o'clock, and my mother said that she smelled smoke,” Tina remembers. “We were trying to find where the smoke was coming from and all of a sudden, we saw flames.” 

Tina’s 80-year-old mother was closest to the front door and managed to make her way out of the house safely. But Tina was trapped behind the fire, struggling not to breathe in smoke as she waited for help. “My next-door neighbor finally got in there to get me out,” she said.  

When firefighters arrived, they were unable to save the home. "It was a total loss," Tina said.

Two American Red Cross of South Carolina volunteers arrived at the scene, assessed the damage, and were able to provide Tina with financial assistance for food, clothing, and medication for her mother. 

“My mother lost all of her medication, and y’all helped her get it back,” said Tina. “I would encourage anybody to use American Red Cross because they really do help.” The volunteers also arranged a temporary shelter for the two while they searched for permanent housing. 

The Red Cross responds to about 65,000 disasters per year, the vast majority of which are home fires — the most frequently occurring disaster in the United States. In South Carolina alone, the organization responds to an average of six home fires per day.

After the fire, Tina and her mother are slowly rebuilding their lives. 

“I appreciate everything y’all helped us with,” she said. Although it hasn't been easy, Tina remains determined to move forward. “We’re still not completely back up on our feet yet, but we got a roof over our head and food in the refrigerator, so that’s all we could ask for.”  

Thanks to donations, the services provided by the Red Cross are free and available to anyone in need. Red Cross volunteers and community partners also meet with families in at-risk communities through Sound the Alarm events. The goal is to share home fire safety information and install free smoke alarms. Working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half.

If you or someone you know would like to learn more about home fire safety and prevention, or if you would like to donate to the American Red Cross, please visit http://redcross.org/fire.