When an apartment near her office in Ballston Spa caught fire in 2004, Joanne Joseph decided to see if any of the displaced families wanted some furniture she was getting ready to replace.
At the scene, she met the president of After the Fire, who suggested Joseph check out a meeting of the group, which works with Saratoga County families affected by fire. Joseph has attended meetings ever since.
“It’s very comforting for people to know that someone is checking in on them,” she said. “Neighbors helping neighbors is critical.”
That could easily be the slogan for After the Fire, a completely volunteer organization that reaches out to any family that has suffered loss from fire and is looking for assistance. The group has connections with area hotels and motels that will put displaced families up for free for a night, after which the Red Cross can help them find shelter. After the Fire volunteers also distribute “personal care packets” containing items like toothbrushes, miniature bars of soap, toothpaste and deodorant. They pass along information on restoration companies and give each person affected a Walmart gift card.
After the Fire was founded in 1991 by ladies auxiliary members from Halfmoon and Clifton Park fire departments who felt fire victims needed help beyond the extinguishing of flames. While some victims are level-headed, “some are just so confused, and rightfully so,” Joseph said.
Membership in After the Fire has dwindled over the years to about 12 members now. They respond to fire calls in pairs after getting a page from the fire control dispatcher. Vice President Kathy Hedgeman said it’s an emotional experience.
“A lot of times I’m crying right along with the family,” she said.
But she and other volunteers relish the chance to “help them start back up that ladder,” Hedgeman said.
Hedgeman first heard about After the Fire f when her best friend, whose husband was a volunteer firefighter, suggested she check it out. Like best friends do, Hedgeman went along. That was all the way back in 1997.
New volunteers are teamed up with veteran volunteers when visiting a fire scene. That gives them a chance to learn what questions to ask and how to ask them. Volunteers are on call 24 hours a day, seven hours a week, with the idea it’s important to offer comfort as quickly as possible.
It’s rare, though, that a call actually comes. After the Fire had responded to seven calls in 2012 through October; it answered 13 calls in 2011. But when a call does come, it can quickly become overwhelming, especially when it includes an apartment where more than one family is involved. Those seven calls in 2012 encompassed 19 families and 46 people. The 13 calls in 2011 were for 22 families and 57 people.
The assistance After the Fire offers is possible largely due to donations, which sometimes come from fire victims themselves once they’re back on their feet. The Saratoga-Wilton Elks donate some of the proceeds from their twice-monthly breakfasts to the group, and Union Fire Co. No. 2 in Ballston Spa set aside money from its annual Good Friday fish fry for After the Fire. Spare Time in Clifton Park recently held a bowling fundraiser, and the group also applied for a grant.
Still, money is always needed, as are volunteers. Some members have health problems that prevent them from visiting fire scenes, so more people to answer fire calls would be great. But the organization would also gladly welcome people who want to answer phone calls, solicit donations or answer questions.
The extent of the damage is not important when people turn to After the Fire for help, Hedgeman said. All that matters is that there’s been a fire and they could use a hand. The organization serves anyone within Saratoga County who has experienced a fire.
“You’re helping people when they’re at their worst,” Hedgeman said. “It’s very rewarding.”
After the Fire encourages its volunteers to attend monthly meetings, but there’s no set time commitment. To learn more, visit www.afterthefire.org.