House Fires Strike Madison and Chatham Borough
Just Hours Apart
Madison/Chatham (January 25, 2009) The Colonial Crossroads Chapter of the American Red Cross responded to two house fires just hours apart on Sunday helping residents who were left standing on the curb without shelter.
The house on North Street in Madison was home to a family with three children who were assisted by the Colonial Crossroads Chapter’s Disaster Action Team, including team leader and Madison resident Julie Siciliano and Irene Sachs of Long Hill Township.
“The family was able to enter the home after the fire was extinguished to retrieve some personal items and medication. However the home was not habitable due to smoke damage,” says Siciliano. The Red Cross secured accommodations for the family and provided financial assistance.
Siciliano had just returned home when she received another call that there was a fire on Front Street in Chatham Borough. “The damage here was very significant. Our Emergency Response Vehicle was called out to provide hot drinks and food to Chatham Borough firefighters. The three tenants who were present were able to re-enter the building with firefighters to retrieve personal items. A fourth tenant was away at the time,” says Siciliano. The Red Cross provided financial assistance and the chapter will be following up this week to provide information on additional resources and referral information for these displaced residents.
“This was the third fire that our Disaster Action Team has responded to this weekend. There was a house fire in Springfield on Saturday and our team was on the scene to provide assistance to those residents,” says Christy Hodde, executive director of the chapter.
In a three week period in December, the Colonial Crossroads Chapter assisted nearly 70 families affected by fires. “All donations our chapter receives go to local programs that keep our community safer. We are only able to serve our residents through donations made directly to our chapter,” adds Hodde. “Although there are many community organizations like faith-based groups, soup kitchens and women’s’ leagues who can assist residents in need, there is only one organization that leads the relief effort and coordinates shelter, clothes, food, medical needs and emotional support. That is your local Red Cross chapter.”
The Chapter receives no government or national funding and very little United Way support. Since December the chapter has spent more than $20,000 in local responses. The financial assistance that has been provided to families affected by recent fires in Summit, Chatham Township, Chatham Borough, Millington and Springfield has not been replaced and the Chapter is making an appeal to area residents to make a donation in any amount.
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