John Burns, 85, and his son Timothy lost their New Plymouth, Idaho, area home in September to fire. John was stunned how quickly Red Cross was on the scene to help. "They were still trying to put the fire out and (Red Cross volunteers) were there already," John said. "I don’t even know how they knew.”
During his days in the Marine Corps and as a blood donor, John Burns was no stranger to the Red Cross and the work they do. But even he was surprised by how quickly they responded to his home fire near New Plymouth in Payette County, Idaho, in September.
“I was stunned. They were still trying to put the fire out and (Red Cross volunteers) were there already,” the 85-year-old said. “I don’t even know how they knew.”
That night, John was in his bedroom when he heard his son Timothy, 33, scream from the living room. Timothy had flipped on a light switch in their trailer when flames immediately began racing up the wall. John emerged to see Timothy trying to extinguish the fire with a garden hose but with little luck. Soon the police and the fire department arrived and helped them both get out.
“It went up in 10 minutes,” John said.
Red Cross responders gave the pair financial assistance they could use for immediate needs like food, clothing and shelter. The Burnout Fund also provided support.
“That helped immediately because Timmy’s wallet had burned up … everything had burned up,” John said. “I’m very grateful for those organizations.”
Timothy had lived in the trailer since he was 4 so its sudden loss was an incredible shock. The outpouring of support helped soften the blow.
“It was really a big blessing at a time of chaos to know your community was there for you and is ready to help,” Timothy said.
Friends from their church gave John a safe place to stay for a few weeks while Timothy stayed with family. Eventually another church member helped find John a permanent home, an assisted-living facility in Emmett.Â
“It’s a beautiful place,” John said. “I’m doing fabulous.”
At almost every step of his life, Red Cross has been there, John said, and he’s grateful for them now more than ever.
“They were there for me in the service, they were there for me here, they have been there at the blood bank, so they’ve been a thread through my life,” John said.
SUPPORT RED CROSS DISASTER RESPONSE
Red Cross volunteers helped more than 770 people in Idaho last year following a disaster, the vast majority of them home fires. Besides helping with families’ most immediate needs like food, clothing and shelter, Red Cross responders also connect clients with disaster mental health support and help replace items like eye glasses and prescriptions.
To learn more about how you can support this important work with a financial gift, visit redcross.org/Idaho.
More than 90 percent of the Red Cross workforce are volunteers. Red Cross offers volunteer opportunities for almost any interest and skillset. Learn more by emailing IDMT.Recruiting@redcross.org or calling 406-493-8778.
