LAS VEGAS (KSNV MyNews3) -- The American Red Cross and the Professional Fire Fighters of Nevada are partnering up to raise money to help those, they already help: fire victims.
The campaign called “Fire Hurts” aims to raise $300,000 and it’s already a third of the way there.
At a ceremony Friday morning in Henderson, private and business donors came up one by one with giant symbolic checks totaling more than $100,000.
The money will be used to assist families who lose so much when fires break out at houses and apartments in Southern Nevada. Just this past year, the Red Cross assisted at least 1,500 families whose homes were burnt.
Often these victims encounter Red Cross volunteers like April Reppetto.
“A lot of times you get there and they're just standing there maybe in their nightgown, or and they've lost everything, and luckily maybe nobody is hurt, but lots of times people are hurt and they're sent to the hospital,” Reppetto said.
The partnership with the Professional Firefighters of Nevada was a natural, says Scott Gorgon, because so often they are on the same scenes.
“We're out their daily, fighting fires in the communities that we serve and we have been with the American Red Cross. Generally after an incident they come and help a family so it's a natural partnership for us for us to partner up with them this year,” Gorgon said.
All the money donated will stay local to help fire victims in Southern Nevada.
“Imagine losing everything you own in an instant, no clothes, no food, all of your furniture, your scrapbooks, everything gone. Where will you sleep? What will you do now?” asked Red Cross Board Chairman Andy McNeil.
Hopefully, you will never know, but if so, the Red Cross should be there to help.
If you would like to donate to the Fire Hurts campaign, visit the
Red Cross online donation site here.
