The American Red Cross is assisting a Fulton family after a early morning fire Sunday caused about $40,000 in damages to their home.
David Griffith, executive director of the American Red Cross of Central and Northern Missouri, said the Fulton Fire Department called the Red Cross Sunday afternoon to inform the organization that the family requested assistance.
"We issued them (the family) a debit card loaded with cash so that they can go out and buy shoes, socks and clothes, those kind of things and food," Griffith said. "We put them up in a motel for three nights. And if there's a child involved, we partnered with Disney about 5 years ago and they gave us some Mickey and Minnie Mouse stuffed toys that we give to the child."
He added that Red Cross volunteers also gave the family comfort
kits that contain personal hygiene items such as toothbrushes and hair combs.
Griffith said the amount of assistance the Red Cross offers is contingent upon the extent of the damage.
Besides the initial help from the Red Cross, Griffith said, "We stay in touch with them (the family) after the initial assessment is done. We follow up with them generally 24 to 48 hours after that to see how they are doing...Then we follow up with them 30 days afterwards. It's not real long term; we don't follow up with them a year after the fire. It depends on a case-by-case basis."
Griffith added that the Red Cross' partnership with local agencies helps provide more assistance to families during their recovery process.
The Fulton Fire Department responded to the residential structure fire at 12:53 a.m. Sunday at 720 Grand Ave.
When fire crews arrived, smoke and flames were visible inside the single-story home. Fire personnel entered the residence and located fire in multiple rooms.
Crews contained the fire in about 30 minutes and did not find any occupants or smoke detectors in the residence, according to a press release from the fire department.
After the fire department, Ful- ton Police and Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office investiga- tors conducted an investigation to determine the cause of the fire, it was determined to be accidental and electrical in nature.