In an instant, everything changed for Red Cross volunteer Francine Lee and her husband James.
On July 24, 2024, Francine was volunteering at a local church and about to head home, when she called her husband to check in with him. It was their 31st wedding anniversary, and she was rushing home to change clothes before a celebratory dinner.
“I said, ‘Hey honey, I’m on my way home,” said Francine. “And he says, ‘There’s a fire here. I want you to know I’m okay.”
Leaders with the Indianapolis Fire Department believe the apartment building on the northeast side of Indianapolis, where Francine and her husband live, was struck by lightning, igniting a fire on the third floor.
“The whole building shook and then all [James] heard was people calling and hollering, ‘It’s on fire, it’s on fire, get out,” said Francine.
James and their six-month-old puppy Max were able to evacuate safely, along with all their neighbors. Each year, the American Red Cross responds to about 65,000 disasters, the vast majority of which are home fires. As Francine arrived, her instincts as a Red Cross volunteer kicked in, and she jumped into action.
“When I pull up, I’m practically running and a lady pulls up beside me, Tiffani Hollis, who is a disaster action team member,” said Francine. “She says, ‘I’m here with the Red Cross, I’m here to help,’ and I said, ‘So am I, follow me.”
As crews worked to put out the flames, Francine and her daughter, Tamara, worked to connect with the apartment complex manager and open the clubhouse to bring people in from the rain.
“My husband says I went from victim to working on the disaster team,” said Francine.
The fire displaced 35 residents who lived at the apartment building. That night, the Red Cross opened a shelter to provide those in need with a safe place to stay. In the following days, Red Cross disaster action team members and volunteers opened 17 cases and provided immediate and supplemental assistance to those impacted. Some neighbors also received disaster health services, disaster mental health services, and disaster spiritual care.
Now, nearly two months later, Francine and James have moved into a new unit at their apartment complex. While many of their belongings were damaged or lost in the fire, Francine says they’re grateful to be safe.
“You never know when you need a neighbor. I encourage everyone to get involved in one way or another with the Red Cross because the Red Cross not only helps you locally, but we help people nationally with all emergencies,” said Francine. “It doesn’t have to be a fire. It could be a flood, or it could be a tornado.”
As a Red Cross volunteer since 2005, Francine says this experience has given her a new perspective on what people go through during disasters. She says she’s more motivated than ever to be involved.
“I hadn’t been as active this year, but I tell you what, I need to go back and take some more [training] classes,” said Francine. “It’s like God is telling me, ‘You need to serve, girlfriend, you need to serve.”
Home fires claim seven lives every day in the U.S. but having working smoke alarms can cut the risk of death by half. The Red Cross offers free smoke alarm installations and home fire safety education. Click here to learn more and make an appointment.
Since the Red Cross launched the Home Fire Campaign in October 2014 to reduce home fire-related deaths and injuries, more than 2.5 million smoke alarms have been installed in communities across the country.
Written by Janie Bohlmann, regional communications manager.