Red Cross Responds to Cambridge Apartments Fire

On Sunday evening, November 12th, Anthony Clark’s dog Chi Chi would not stop barking. Clark, a resident of the Cambridge Apartments, a senior housing community located on Milwaukee’s east side, had Chi Chi out on his apartment balcony. “I went to check on her. I smelled a lot of smoke, saw sparks flying in the air, so I got her in,” Clark said. “I came back out to take a look, leaned back on my balcony, looked up, and saw bright orange and flames and I knew it was serious.”

_{^{Anthony Clark and his dog Chi Chi.}}

The two-alarm fire broke out around 8:45 p.m. on the 10th floor of the high-rise apartments, forcing the entire building to be evacuated and displacing residents. That night, a temporary shelter was set up at the Clinton Rose Senior Center on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., and Red Cross Disaster Action Team responders were on the scene to offer emotional support and to help get 53 Cambridge Apartments residents settled in.

^{_{Cambridge Apartment residents & a Red Cross volunteer share a moment at the Holler Park shelter.}}

“I would like to thank the Red Cross, they came in and gave us a place to stay because some of us didn’t have any place to go,” said resident Judy Johnson. “I thank God for the Red Cross.”

The residents were relocated the following day to a more spacious shelter in Holler Park, on Milwaukee’s south side. Everyone was allowed back into their apartments on Thursday, November 16th, and consequently the shelter closed.

Home fires account for most of the more than 60,000 disasters that the Red Cross responds to annually across the country. So far in 2023, Red Cross volunteers have helped over 2,961 people affected by about 539 home fires across Wisconsin and the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan, by providing emergency lodging, financial assistance for urgent needs like food and clothing, and one-on-one recovery support for navigating next steps and connecting with community resources.

“Everyone from the Red Cross stepped in with enthusiasm and helpfulness.  They brought a smile to our faces and warmth to our hearts,” said resident Robert Lee Titwell.

The Red Cross held a Multi-Agency Resource Center on Monday, November 20^th, from 3-5:30 p.m. at the Cambridge Apartments where public and private organizations came together to provide assistance and essentials to those who were impacted by the fire.

^{Red Cross volunteers at the MARC for Cambridge Apartments.}

To support Red Cross disaster relief through volunteer service or a financial donation, click here. To learn more about the Red Cross home fire campaign, click here.

Volunteer Spotlight – Judy Giacomino

By Colton Pemble, American Red Cross

Judy Giacomino has been volunteering with the American Red Cross for seven years and has been deployed 35 times to national disasters. She’s served in a wide variety of roles including disaster assessment, distribution of essential supplies, casework and recovery, Disaster Action Team member, Regional Workforce Engagement Lead, feeding, ERV (Emergency Response Vehicle) driver and logistics.

Giacomino got involved with the Red Cross a few months after she retired. “I started volunteering for numerous organizations,” said Giacomino, “but while cleaning out my mother’s things, I found her Red Cross volunteer membership card and a Red Cross pin from 1942, WWII. That’s what
started me on this path.”

As she began volunteering, Giacomino said, “I found in the Red Cross the most efficient and effective way to help others. I could take my skills and apply them to where they would be most effective and gratifying. That’s what sucked me in.”

Giacomino said she’s in awe of the volunteers who direct disaster relief operations because they’re leaders who point other volunteers to areas where they’re needed most.  

“The reward for most volunteers is feeling that they have been able to help those in need of assistance,” said Giacomino.

If you are interested in becoming a Red Cross volunteer, learn more about the open opportunities near you by visiting www.redcross.org/local/wisconsin/volunteer.

Red Cross Sound the Alarm Comes to Two Wisconsin Cities This Fall

Home fires claim the lives of seven people every day in the United States. That’s why the American Red Cross launched Sound the Alarm, a nationwide initiative to reduce the number of home fire deaths and injuries by providing families with free smoke alarms and fire safety education.

Through the Sound the Alarm campaign, Red Cross volunteers, working with local fire departments and other community partners, visit homes to share fire safety information, install free smoke alarms and replace batteries in existing alarms. Since its launch in October 2014, the campaign has saved at least 1,928 lives nationwide from home fires — including 5 people in Wisconsin.

During the month of October, two Sound the Alarm events took place in the American Red Cross Wisconsin Region.

Sound the Alarm – Wausau

On Saturday, October 21^st, Red Cross volunteers and staff teamed up with the Wausau Fire Department to share home fire safety information and install free smoke alarms in homes where they’re needed, as part of the Sound the Alarm campaign. Approximately 17 volunteers helped to install 97 smoke alarms making 29 homes in Wausau safer.

Community partner NorthStar Restoration Services hosted the morning rally. Disaster Specialist Timothy Davis kicked off the rally with a presentation on fire safety and training on how to properly install and test smoke alarms. Team members then paired up and set off on their routes.

“We are proud of our incredible work with community partners to help save lives by providing free smoke alarms in Wausau as part of the national Home Fire Campaign,” said Kathryn Halvorsen, Executive Director of the American Red Cross of Wisconsin North Central Chapter. “This amazing effort has been made possible by every volunteer, donor and supporter who teamed up to care for vulnerable families in our community.”

Sound the Alarm – Beloit

On Wednesday, October 25^th, Red Cross volunteers started their morning off with coffee and donuts at the Beloit Fire Station as they went through training on fire safety and how to properly install smoke alarms.

Over the course of five hours, approximately ten Red Cross volunteers installed 102 smoke alarms and made 40 homes in Beloit safer.

Donna Spires was one of the Beloit residents who signed up for an appointment and requested a free smoke alarm, after learning about the Sound the Alarm program at a local senior fair. “I have been meaning to replace my smoke alarms and learning the Red Cross provides this service is fantastic. Having new smoke alarms installed in my house is wonderful and very important. It means a lot to me that everyone has been so nice. I will sleep much safer tonight,” said Spires.

Red Cross volunteers Tim Kratz, Matt Zierer and Jared Bergstrom installed and tested four new smoke alarms in Spire’s home. Kratz also reviewed safety tips and discussed a home fire escape plan with Spires.

Since the beginning of the year, Red Cross Wisconsin Region volunteers and partners have reached 913 homes, installed 2,481 free smoke alarms and made 2,065 people safer.

For more information about Sound the Alarm, to request a smoke alarm, or to sign-up to help at an installation event near you, visit our website.