When they lost everything, the Red Cross was there

David Ullman, Volunteer Storyteller

Mirza Baig and Jessica Ward

On April 25, newlyweds Mirza Baig and Jessica Ward were sleeping peacefully when they were startled by the sound of fire alarms. Fire had broken out on the back side of their apartment building and they needed to evacuate.  

“It was about 10:40 at night and there were several alarms going off,” Jessica said. “So, we tried to get out as quickly as we could with my mom and my animals. We didn't grab any possessions.”

The fire started in a rear apartment on the third floor of the 28-unit apartment building. By the time the Manchester Fire Department arrived, it had escalated to a two-alarm fire. As hoses were being set up, the fire intensified to a three-alarm. Within a couple of hours, the fire was contained and extinguished, leaving charred devastation in its wake.

Due to the water and smoke damage, the loss of utilities, and the discovery of asbestos, the building was declared uninhabitable.

“At first, we didn't know how bad it was going to be. We were new to the apartment complex. We just moved there in December and my mom was visiting from out of town,” recalled Jessica.

As the residents congregated in the apartment complex’s clubhouse, volunteers from the American Red Cross arrived.

Jessica remembered her first interaction. 

“We were very impressed by all the volunteers with the Red Cross. They were just caring and understanding of our situation,” Jessica said.

She continued, “The Red Cross was an immediate help to us with everything because we were in a hotel for two weeks. Clothing, food, everything that was in our household now is either damaged or we just don't have access to it.”

That night, in the communal clubhouse on the property, Red Cross volunteers met with the displaced residents.

“The Red Cross volunteers stayed with us at the clubhouse before we knew where we were going for the night,” said Jessica. “We didn't have a whole lot of answers that night, but they were able to provide water, snacks and toiletry kits. The water was great because we inhaled a lot of smoke. 

“Everyone’s emotions were really high at that point, so it was nice to have people there that have experienced things like this before. It was reassuring.”

The following Sunday Red Cross volunteers met with the residents again to create case files and provide financial assistance. During these meetings, Red Cross volunteers also talked about the physical, mental and spiritual condition of each displaced individual and helped resolve any urgent issues.  

“That's really an interview where they ask about the situation and if we wanted any help with lost medication and similar items,” said Jessica. “That was very nice because there are people who lost all their medication and that's a lot to deal with, especially if it's something you need right away.

“They also asked questions about our mental health because it was kind of soon after the fire,” she continued. “You think you're okay until the reality of what happens actually sinks in. It's something that might affect you weeks or a month or more later.” 

Recovering from a fire can be a long and arduous journey. Some find it physically, mentally and spiritually taxing. To support home fire survivors, the Red Cross provides step-by-step support to get folks started.

“They gave us a little booklet to navigate what we were going to do. It had a lot of different contact information and instructions,” Jessica explained. “There's so many things swirling around in your head that you need to do. It’s nice to have a list of which steps you need to do and what order. It's a lot to keep track of, especially when you have to deal with insurance and prioritizing things.”

Concerned for their neighbors, Mirza and Jessica reached out to remind folks to lean on the Red Cross for help.

“Since there were so many people that were affected by the situation, we encouraged a couple of the other residents to meet with the Red Cross,” Jessica said. “We were thinking, ‘What if so and so doesn't know about this already?’ My husband made a phone call to one of the other residents to make sure that they took time to schedule an appointment or show up to meet with the Red Cross.” 

Mirza and Jessica have since relocated to another apartment complex and are starting to rebuild their lives. Days after the fire, they were allowed 15 minutes to access their former home to collect necessities and documents. Despite losing everything, the couple remains positive and proactive. They’ve even discussed joining the Red Cross as disaster volunteers once they can achieve a sense of day-to-day normalcy.

“We were pleasantly surprised by all the help that the Red Cross was able to give us and we were grateful,” Jessica concluded.

To become an American Red Cross disaster volunteer, go to www.redcross.org/volunteer.