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The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) team in Buffalo, New York, responded to a multi-alarm residential fire this morning.
The team provided canteen and hydration services to approximately 75 firefighters involved in battling the blaze, which threatened three adjacent homes. The Salvation Army also provided water, snacks and blankets, as well as prayer and counsel to 10 residents displaced at 3:45 a.m., three days before Christmas.
“We are grateful to the Buffalo Area Command and the continued selfless service of their EDS volunteers,” said Michael R. Schwartz, Empire State Divisional Disaster Director for The Salvation Army. “It is awe inspiring to see the dedication and ‘service above self’ exhibited by this team of volunteers in Buffalo.
Schwartz added that it’s “truly a blessing” to the Greater Buffalo Area when you consider that these services are provided only through donated resources from the community. The Salvation Army’s disaster relief arm does not receive any funding or reimbursement from any level of government in New York.
“Whether it is a cup of coffee, a blanket for a resident who ran out of danger in their pajamas, or simply a comforting word, our EDS team is there—never searching out the limelight, just to be a helping hand in a time of crisis.”
