Several years ago, on the day after Thanksgiving, Malachi Simmons Sr. and his family watched their home burn to the ground.

‘I remember it was the Friday night after Thanksgiving we experienced a house fire where our house was completely destroyed. What happened is they were fighting it, but the fire got up in the attic and they couldn’t get to the base of it. So, we pretty much had to sit there and watch it burn. It was 95% destroyed,’ said Simmons.

Simmons and his family were safe, but they lost most of what they owned in the fire.

“Someone came to me and said, ‘there are some people with the Red Cross that want to talk to you. They are up at your daughter’s house and they want to talk to you and your family,’’’ said Simmons. “That Red Cross couple, at 2 o’clock in the morning were there to console me and my family. They gave us financial support, they gave us vouchers to get clothing, they put us in hotel.’

Simmons’ family is similar to many families across South Carolina that experience an unexpected disaster. On average, the Red Cross of South Carolina responds to six home fires a day across South Carolina. Our Disaster Action Teams provide support to the families with financial assistance, resources and referrals. Since January, the American Red Cross has responded to more than 1,400 home fires across South Carolina to help nearly 4,100 people with urgent needs like emergency lodging, financial assistance and recovery planning.

“The thing about it, is they followed up. They called and checked on us to see how we were doing. Disaster came to my door and I have really seen them in action,” said Simmons.

Generous support and volunteers make this work possible every day. Families are often overwhelmed after losing nearly everything to a home fire — which is why the Red Cross mission is critical in local communities.

“We were blessed because God was taking care of us and we were blessed because the Red Cross came into our lives. I am really thankful for that,” said Simmons. “I encourage you to give to the Red Cross because they play a major role in our lives, especially during times of disasters. You never know when disaster will knock at your door.”

STAY SAFE FROM HOME FIRES Visit redcross.org/fire for more information or download the free Red Cross Emergency app (search “American Red Cross” in app stores).

Test your smoke alarms monthly.

• Place smoke alarms on each level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.
• Change the batteries at least once a year, if your model requires it.
• Check the manufacturer’s date of your smoke alarms. If they’re 10 years or older, they need to be replaced because the sensor becomes less sensitive over time. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions

Practice your escape plan until everyone can get out in less than two minutes.

• Include at least two ways to exit every room in your home.
• Select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone knows to meet.
• Teach children what a smoke alarm sounds like. Talk about fire safety and what to do in an emergency.

HOW YOU CAN HELP This is the time to take care of one another. Please join us to help people in need:

• Donate at redcross.org. A gift of any size makes a difference.
• Volunteer by registering for opportunities at redcross.org/volunteer. Our need for volunteers is constant and continues to evolve as we navigate this health crisis.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.