Red Cross Assists Dozens After Manchester Apartment Fire

 By Dan Dowling – regional communication manager

When a fast‑moving fire tore through a multi‑unit apartment building on Beech Hill Avenue in Manchester on Friday night, April 17, dozens of residents suddenly found themselves without a home, unsure of what would come next.

Within minutes, 12 American Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers were on scene, working alongside the Manchester Fire Department to support the roughly 40 people displaced by the blaze.

That night, the Red Cross Disaster Action Team provided aid to seven families, including nine adults and three children. Several pets were also displaced in the fire. The families received comfort kits, financial assistance to replace clothing and other immediate needs, and a warm, safe place to spend the night.

The next day, a reception center opened near the scene of the fire, offering a private, supportive space for residents to connect with Red Cross caseworkers. There, individuals could access emotional support, disaster health and mental health services, spiritual care referrals, and comfort kits including blankets and teddy bears for children coping with an overwhelming experience.

Rich Stancliff, the community disaster program manager for the Red Cross in southern New Hampshire, was one of the team members there to help returning residents.

“When they came in, they were stressed and very scared. By the time they left, the residents were in a significantly better place than when they showed up. They were shaking hands and talking to us. It was wonderful to see,” recalls Stancliff.

Over the past four days, the response has grown. More than 20 Red Crossers have mobilized to deliver compassionate care and critical assistance as the full scope of the disaster became clear. Working closely with partners from Manchester Fire, Manchester Housing, and other supporting agencies, teams have ensured that every affected resident has access to the help they need.

By Tuesday evening, the Red Cross had opened 16 cases and supported 38 individuals impacted by the fire. Red Cross caseworkers have been meeting one‑on‑one with residents to assess immediate needs, provide financial assistance, and begin recovery planning. For Stancliff, the mission to help others is what continues to drive him.

“I get a sense of purpose in being there for people in their worst moment and doing everything that I can as an individual to make a difference in their life at that moment, whatever I can. I think that's what has always driven me in both my time as a firefighter and as a volunteer and now as a Red Cross employee,” Stancliff says.

The Red Cross has also been in close coordination with the housing authority and the property management company, which is working to identify longer‑term housing options for displaced residents. With both buildings destroyed, the path forward will require sustained collaboration among local agencies, community partners, and Red Cross recovery teams.

This week marks National Volunteer Week, a fitting backdrop for a response that has been almost entirely volunteer‑driven. More than 90% of the Red Cross workforce is made up of volunteers, and responses like this one simply would not be possible without their dedication.

“They are willing to drop everything and be there for somebody in the worst moment. They all do it with a massive amount of compassion, driven by that desire to bring hope for those people in that hopeless moment,” says Stancliff.

Their commitment reflects the heart of the Red Cross mission of neighbors helping neighbors when it matters most. To learn more about becoming a volunteer, visit redcross.org/volunteer.

All Red Cross assistance is provided free of charge and made possible by the generosity of donors and the dedication of volunteers. To support Red Cross Disaster Relief and help people affected by disasters big and small, visit redcross.org or call 1‑800‑RED CROSS.