“I did actually smell smoke, but I just thought maybe somebody was burning wood,” said Monica Dixon.
On the morning of August 12, 2024, Monica Dixon woke up to the unimaginable – a fire in the unit below her apartment.
“It was just coming out, it was coming out of the roof, coming out of the windows. You heard everything just crackling and busting,” said Monica. “Man, you think you’re going to lose it all. Plus, you don’t know how bad the smoke damage is.”
Monica made it safely outside and watched as firefighters worked. She says it took about 30 minutes for crews to put out the fire.
“After they put out the flames, the very nice Captain or the Chief, he came and talked to all the people who lived at the apartments and told us that the American Red cross was on the way and they would be there to talk to us,” said Monica.
Red Cross volunteers arrived to help Monica and her neighbors on one of the most challenging days of their lives.
“It was two people, and they gave us whatever support we needed. They told us about other places that we could go in our city, resources where we could go to get some help. They were really nice and patient. They stayed with us all the way through, until the last firefighter left,” said Monica.
The Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters a year, and the majority are home fires. Volunteers often provide shelter, food and water, health services, and support to those in need.
“I just want to say, please, if you want to donate, even just five, ten dollars, just whatever you’ve got, please give it to them if you’re able to and just know your money is going to go to work. I know it’s hard for everybody out here, but your money, when you donate to them, you will see your money at work any time you see American Red Cross,” said Monica.
Thanks to donations, Red Cross services are free and available for all those in need. Visit RedCross.org to support our lifesaving work.