Carolina: Rebuilding After the Fire

Carolina is a young woman from El Palmar de Herrera whose home was recently lost to a fast-moving fire. In the photo, she holds basic kitchen utensils—first essentials provided by the St. Francis Hands Foundation to help her take the next step toward stability and hope.

House fires in low-resource neighborhoods are heartbreakingly common. Homes are often built close together, and families may rely on improvised utilities and open-flame cooking—conditions that allow small sparks to become major blazes in minutes. When a fire strikes, there is rarely time to save belongings.

Our volunteers responded quickly with clothing and a starter kitchen set so Carolina could cook safely and care for herself while longer-term support is arranged. We are committed to accompanying her through recovery—with compassion, practical help, and respect for her dignity.

Why fires spread quickly in low-resource communities

• Overloaded or improvised electrical connections and aging wiring

• Open-flame or charcoal/kerosene cooking; unattended cooking during outages

• Propane cylinder leaks or damaged hoses/regulators

• Flammable building materials, tight spacing between homes, and strong winds

• Limited access to smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and reliable water supply

• Narrow streets that delay emergency response

Your support equips families like Carolina’s with safe cook kits, smoke detectors, and emergency supplies that prevent future tragedies.