A house fire forced a family out of their home Monday night in Macheche.
Yesterday, a call from the Dededo Mayor’s Office alerted the American Red Cross of a fire that displaced a family of seven from their home along Chalan Akudi.
Firefighters from the Dededo fire station responded and according to Red Cross Disaster Manager David Peredo, caseworkers from the Red Cross went to the scene to assess the condition of the wood and tin house.
“Our caseworkers went to the site and did make client contact. They told them that their home was totally destroyed by a fire. And when I say totally, I mean the entire building from roof to flooring. Everything was burnt and lost from the client,” Peredo said.
No injuries were reported from the incident and the family, along with their five young children, were given assistance by the Red Cross. This included a three-day stay at a local motel and some money for clothes and food. They have also been referred to the Guam Housing Corporation and GHURA to find long-term assistance.
“We hope that the family starts their plan of recovery and goes on with their normal daily lives. One of our missions in providing these relief services is giving families who have been displaced and affected … to give them the hope that somebody is there to help them,” Peredo said.
The local Red Cross on Guam has seen an increase in home fires, with as many as 30 being reported annually since 2014, a jump from the usual 17 in the years prior.
Peredo, a former fire chief, says that the organization has been working to increase community awareness about fire safety and prevention through workshops and outreach events.
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