Polk County Chapter sees a busy three days of fires

Volunteers respond to nine house fires and feed firefighters at industrial fire, in three days

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2009 – The American Red Cross Polk County chapter has just seen a busy three days, starting at roughly 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, and ending at roughly the same time on Friday, April 24.

All told, American Red Cross volunteers in Polk and Highlands counties have responded to a combined nine home fires – affecting 10 families (31 people) – and provided a hydration, nutrition and respite station for firefighters at an industrial fire in Bartow.

Polk Red Cross volunteers started by responding at 10:15 a.m. to a fire on Melhorn Road in Haines City, Fla.,, which had displaced two adults, a child, and a puppy. Volunteers provided the family with temporary shelter, comfort kits (personal hygiene items), emergency assistance for clothing and groceries, Red Cross T-shirts, and a teddy bear to comfort the child.

Then at 11:30 a.m., Red Cross volunteers drove to Hughes Road in Lake Hamilton, Fla., where a fire had destroyed the one man’s mobile home. He had arranged to stay with family, but volunteers were able to provide a comfort kit, emergency assistance for groceries and clothing, a Red Cross T-Shirt, and landlord verification forms to assist in relocation.

Then just before noon, a fire started at the Peace River Citrus plant on U.S. 17 in Bartow. Red Cross volunteers arrived at 1 p.m. and provided 50 meals, 100 drinks, 60 snacks, and a misting fan to roughly 50 emergency personnel.

Red Cross responded to several home fires over the three-day period. Each case was different, but volunteers provided assistance based on people’s disaster-caused needs:

• At 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, Highlands County Red Cross volunteers helped a family of three displaced from their home on Holmes Court in Sebring.
• At 2:30 p.m., Red Cross volunteers in Polk County responded to the site of a fire on Elk Drive in Lakeland to help five adults.
• At 11:30 p.m., Red Cross volunteers arrived on Pipkin Road in Lakeland, where fire displaced two adults and four children.
• Shortly after noon on Wednesday, April 22, volunteers responded to a fire scene on Henry Street in Auburndale, and provided assistance to two adults and a child, who were able to still stay in the house.
• At 8:15 p.m. that night, volunteers responded to help an adult and three children after a fire on West 14th Street in Lakeland.
• Thursday morning saw Red Cross responding in both counties. A fire on Tubbs Ranch Road in Sebring destroyed the mobile home of a family of four. Later that day, a duplex fire on North Vermont Drive in Lakeland affected two families – three adults.

Home fires continue to be the most common disaster response for any local Red Cross Chapter. While any disaster can be devastating to a family, large or small, needs increase during tough economic times. Please take every precaution and follow fire safety tips to prevent fires in your home, and please support your local Red Cross. For more information, call your Polk County Chapter at (863) 294-5941 or visit http://polkcountyfl.redcross.org.