Red Cross responds to last night's fire in St Johnsbury

Late Thursday night Red Cross Disaster Services volunteers responded to Main Street in St Johnsbury to meet the needs of at least 9 families displaced by a late night, four-alarm fire that raged through the residential/commercial building where they lived. The responding personnel are all members of the Northern Vermont Chapter s Disaster Action Team program. The fire appeared to have started in a convenience store on Main Street before spreading to three other buildings. There were no injuries reported.
The call came in around 10:30 pm to the Red Cross On-call Disaster Duty Officer who immediately dispatched the Caledonia County Disaster Action Team. The team responded to provide immediate emergency assistance to all the families involved and to support the rehabilitation needs of firefighters and other emergency workers on the scene. Our mass care/rehabilitation personnel are there to help with the rehydration and electrolyte replacement so desperately needed by the firefighters and other emergency personnel as they work on this major structure fire. says Steve Pernicka, the chapter s Mass Care lead, Our role is to help them stay safe as they perform their very important jobs.
The front lawn of the Fairbanks Museum, which is close to the actual scene, became a Family Assistance Center where each family was interviewed to determine their immediate emergency needs. The Red Cross is primarily able to assist with emergency shelter, food, clothing, medical and disaster mental health services where a verified need exists and will support the families further by providing referrals to other community support resources.
While interviews were being conducted with the families directly affected by the fire, Red Cross officials received a request from the fire department to house additional individuals who were being evacuated temporarily from their apartments on Prospect Street which is in direct proximity to the blaze on Main Street.
The Red Cross, its partner agencies and the entire Caledonia County community come together in times like these to support the people affected by disaster. said Tina Wood, the Red Cross Volunteer Co-County Coordinator. Wood went on to say, It is this kind of community support that helps us be successful in our mission. A team of ten Red Cross personnel worked through the night supporting the response efforts.
To help the victims of this and other disasters, contributions can be made to the Northern Vermont Chapter s Disaster Relief Fund by sending them to the American Red Cross, Northern Vermont Chapter, 29 Mansfield Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401-3323. Please specify Northern Vermont Chapter Disaster Services in the memo of your check. Also, if you or someone you know are interested in volunteering in Disaster Services and responding to incidents such as this one, we would love to hear from you. Please give us a call at 802-660-9130 x110 to find out more about volunteer opportunities.
Source: Red Cross. (St. Johnsbury, Vermont July 10, 2007)