MANCHESTER, TN — The American Red Cross of Tennessee is opening a shelter in Coffee County after a fire broke out at an apartment complex in Manchester. Local American Red Cross volunteers from the Heart of Tennessee Chapter responded to the fire on Summer Street to assist those impacted by the fire.

Manchester, TN Mayor Joey Hobbs Released a Statement on Social Media: "Last night, there was a catastrophic fire at Carden Estates Apartments that resulted in the total loss of 36 housing units. At this time, the displaced families(approximately 72 individuals )are being bussed to the Conference Center. The Dusty Elam Foundation is delivering toiletries, and Hardee's is going to feed them breakfast. The Red Cross has been notified and is on their way, and I am currently contacting local clergy to help in coordinating available resources. I know that many of you will be eager to help in any way that you can because that's what we do in Manchester! I will give further updates throughout the day as to the best way to proceed. I would like to close by thanking the Manchester Fire Department for their heroic efforts in containing the fire and their assistance with the families affected. There was no loss of life, and for that, we can be incredibly grateful."

First Baptist Church Manchester, Manchester Coffee County Conference Center, The Manchester Fire and Rescue Department, Manchester Police Department, and Coffee County community partners, along with Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers, are on the scene to help coordinate emergency aid to those affected. They are assisting more than 70 people.

In addition to the shelter, the Red Cross is providing comfort kits and recovery planning to the families to meet their disaster-caused needs.

Every eight minutes, the Red Cross responds to a disaster. That’s why the American Red Cross launched the nationwide Home Fire Campaign in 2014 which aims to reduce home fire deaths and injuries by 25 percent.    

HOME FIRE CAMPAIGN SAVE LIVES Since October 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign with community partners has saved at least 2,167 lives by educating families about fire safety, helping them create escape plans and installing free smoke alarms in high-risk areas across the country. To learn more about the campaign and how you can get involved, visit redcross.org/homefires. 

HOW TO HELP You can help people affected by disasters and countless other crises by making a gift to the American Red Cross. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. People can donate by visiting redcross.org/donate, calling 1-800-RED-CROSS, or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.