GREENVILLE, S.C. July 19, 2023 – Disaster-trained volunteers with the American Red Cross are responding to an apartment fire that occurred Monday evening at an apartment building located at 1101 Roper Mountain Road in Greenville.   

22 families are displaced, with all units determined to have major damage or destroyed. The Red Cross of South Carolina has opened cases for 15 families (23 individuals) so far to provide immediate financial assistance to support the impacted families’ immediate needs, such as shelter, food, and clothes.   

"As our teams work with the families impacted, our hearts go out to them, and we want to provide all the support we can," said Jamie Raichel, the Executive Director of the Upstate Chapter. "This devasting event reminds us that fires can happen anywhere, at any time, and we must always be prepared for these devastating and unfortunately frequent disasters. We encourage families to practice their home fire safety plan and test their smoke alarms."  

In addition to immediate needs, Red Cross team members are providing mental and spiritual care assistance to anyone who may need it. The Red Cross will continue to stay in contact with its partners to see if any additional assistance is needed.  

HOW TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE Help protect your family against home fires by taking two simple steps: Practice your two-minute escape drill and test your smoke alarms monthly. Visit SoundTheAlarm.org for more information and to pledge to prepare your family against home fires. 

• Create an escape plan with 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. 
• Practice your escape plan until everyone in your household can get out in less than two minutes. 
• 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. 

DISASTER ACTION TEAM VOLUNTEERS NEEDED The American Red Cross of South Carolina needs the community's help to respond to our neighbors in need. More than 2,000 people volunteer with the Red Cross throughout the state. These volunteers answer the call in the middle of the night to comfort a family down the street impacted by a home fire. You can make a difference by turning tragedy into hope. Visit redcross.org/volunteertoday to get started today.  

HOW TO HELP 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. 

About the American Red Cross: 
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families.  The Red Cross is a charitable organization – not a government agency – and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org/SC or @RedCrossSC