“I was coming home from work when a strange pang gripped my stomach—like a whisper from God, warning me something was wrong. As I neared the apartment complex, a towering plume of black smoke clawed at the sky. I froze. My heart raced. Then my phone rang—it was my son, Jordan. He had escaped and was safe at a nearby coffee shop. Relief washed over me, but as I pulled up, flames were devouring the buildings. I was so disoriented, I almost dropped off groceries before realizing… everything might be gone.”

On August 26, a massive fire tore through Fidelina Martinez apartment on Teague Road in Northwest Houston, displacing hundreds. She and her son escaped unharmed, but their home—and everything in it—was suddenly out of reach. No one could say whether their apartment had survived. The Red Cross quickly deployed a Disaster Action Team and opened a shelter for those affected.

“At first, I didn’t know where to go,” Fidelina recalled. “Some neighbors planned to sleep in their cars. Thankfully, a friend from church took us in that night and even gave me clothes to wear. They didn’t fit—my pants kept slipping down—but I was just grateful to have something.”

The days that followed were filled with uncertainty.

“I had insurance, but that takes time. Meanwhile, we had nothing, no clothes, no food, no supplies. Then I saw Red Cross workers across the street. I filled out a form online, not expecting much. But they called me directly and invited me to meet with a caseworker at the shelter. God puts the right people in our path,” said Fidelina.

When Fidelina arrived, she saw dozens of neighbors gathered—each carrying their own story of loss. “It grieved me to see so much pain,” she said. “But the Red Cross welcomed us with open arms. They gave us food, water, cleaning supplies—and even financial assistance. I didn’t expect that.”

For Fidelina, the fire wasn’t just about losing possessions, it was about losing peace.

“I don’t care about things,” said Fidelina.

“What hurts is the stress, the sleepless nights, the confusion. But the Red Cross gave me comfort, not just aid. In our darkest hour, they helped carry our pain. That united us. That made us stronger, they reminded me that even when everything feels lost, we are never truly alone.”

Just like Fidelina, over 100 people lost their home that day and are now on their way to recovery. If you would like to help families affected by home fires like Fidelina please donate by going to redcross.org or calling 1-800-Red-Cross.You can also make a difference in your community by signing up to be a volunteer at recross.org/volunteer.

Story By: Francisco Philibert