‘Somebody’s On Your Side;' Red Cross Helping Families Amid Uptick In OKC Fires

October has been a busy month for Oklahoma City firefighters. They’ve responded to 35 house and commercial fire alarms, but they’re not the only ones responding. 

The American Red Cross in Oklahoma City responds to more fires than any other disaster. Leaders say they’re always prepared to help anyone at any time. At any moment something can go wrong -- so wrong that all that’s left are pieces of people’s lives. “People need us when they need us,” said Mary Jane Coffman 

Friday night’s apartment fire in Northwest Oklahoma City offered a snapshot of an uptick in fire calls this month. Mary Jane Coffman and the Oklahoma American Red Cross help people repair their lives. “Just so you know somebody’s on your side,” Coffman said. 

The Red Cross helps replace what’s often taken for granted and ensures anyone who is displaced has somewhere to go no matter their situation. “Everybody’s recovery looks different,” Coffman said. “That’s where we try to meet people where they are.” 

Last Friday night Oklahoma City firefighters rescued two people. “Both patients did not make it,” said Battalion Chief Scott Douglas, with the Oklahoma City Fire Department. 

Douglas reminded people to make an emergency exit plan.  “An exit drill is something everybody should be practicing; your kids, every adult.” 

Coffman and her team help educate people before a disaster, and they are present to help after the fact. “All those things we can do to help people be prepared,” Coffman said. “It’s really about being there for people.” A mission where no one is alone, and people have support to start their lives again. “How can I be there for you in this moment?” 

The Red Cross in Oklahoma City is always looking for volunteers and donations. For more information visit www.redcross.org.