I was happy to arrive at another shift of the Disaster Action Team on the Sunday four to midnight shift. I had thought, driving in, that it would have been a very quiet night, however when I arrived that was not the case. I learned that there was a very large apartment fire that happened in the morning, which the morning team, as well as a back up team, was helping. When we arrived we did our best to get ready for the night shifts. However, shortly after we had our DAT truck ready, we had a fire involving a family to go to. This family’s story stuck in my mind most of the night and continuing through the day. We arrived at the house shortly after the firemen had put out the fire; however, the house was completely destroyed. We saw the house first and the family sitting on a neighbors porch second. It was very heart-wrenching sight. The owners were utterly devastated. The lady of the house was in a state of shock I had never really seen before, which was so sad. And the man of the house didn’t really know what to do other than listen to the firemen and the Red Cross talk.
When we had an opportunity to listen to what they had to say, we found out that the family had just bought a brand new car and only had one year left to pay their house off. One year! To be that close to owning your home and then having it snatched away, I cannot even imagine how I would react. After talking with the family and firemen we went inside to help the family get anything that was salvageable in the house out. Sadly we didn’t find much of anything that was ok in the bottom levels of the house. Although when we went to the upstairs bedroom we discovered that one closet in the entire house was unaffected. It was amazing—there was simply light smoke damage to the clothing, compared to the charcoaled environment that surround every inch of the rest of the house. We ended up providing food and clothing to the family, and when we were finished the most touching thing—the family embraced us with hugs. You could feel how much they appreciated our help and could only express it in tears and hugs. I don’t believe I will ever forget them. And wish nothing but the best for their future.
Kathrine Vigil is an Americorps NPRC Response Member for the St. Louis Area Chapter.
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