A trio of house fires in Christian County late Thursday and early Friday morning has kept the Hopkinsville office of the American Red Cross busy this holiday weekend.
And families are now in need, at the most critical time of the season.
Kathy Hayes, a full-time volunteer with the organization, said the Red Cross has either responded — or is in immediate coordination with — all three families who have endured this unfortunate experience.
A fire on Bluebird Court in Hopkinsville Friday morning severely damaged a home, and displaced a family. Hayes said these unnamed individuals have already been referred to the Salvation Army, with the home considered “a total loss.”
A fire in the 5000 block of Old Madisonville Road Friday morning destroyed a home, and left an unnamed individual with nothing — which Hayes noted included the loss of identification and payment cards, as well as a damaged and unusable vehicle. She said a financial hold-over is coming, once weather permits.
And then, a fire late Thursday night destroyed a home and injured at least two people in the 6000 block of Grapevine Road. Through nearby assistance, two adults and a child were transported to Madisonville before Crofton Fire Department were on scene. Hayes said contact with the family has been made, but more remains to be done about what the next steps need to be for required help.
According to multiple social media posts, this involves Hayden Heisler of Nortonville, and Jeremiah Skinner of Earlington.
She said there are two ways in which funds can get back to the American Red Cross and these families.
1) One can go online at redcross.org, and provide a consistent or one-time donation that can be directed to the Hopkinsville office, with a name placed on the generous offer.
2) One can visit the Hopkinsville office or send something by mail to 709 South Main Street, ZIP Code 42240.
Hayes said that two of the biggest contributors and connectors of assistance for the Red Cross Hopkinsville office are the Salvation Army and the Aaron McNeil House — who at a moments notice have been involved with scores of current and former rescues.
Furthermore, Hayes mentioned that the individual from Old Madisonville Road was renting the property before its destruction, and that rental property offers continue to be a major, major need for the Red Cross in west Kentucky.
