CFC monitor experiences generosity first hand Published Oct. 21, 2005 By Darren D. Heusel 72nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. (AFMCNS) -- When Donna Britton West opted to become a monitor for the Combined Federal Campaign at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., she had no idea she would experience firsthand the overwhelming generosity of one of the campaign's charitable organizations just three days later. On Aug. 20, a fire broke out in the home the 72nd Mission Support Group transportation mobility technician shared with her daughter and two grandchildren in the Forrest Park addition in Midwest City. But before the fire was even out, volunteers from the Red Cross were on hand to help ease her pain and suffering. "I was standing there watching my house burn and I guess I was in shock," Ms. West said. "It didn't even dawn on me that I wouldn't have a place to stay that night. But I turned around and there were these people from the Red Cross standing right there." Ms. West said the Red Cross representatives weren't at all intrusive. "They asked me what kind of insurance I had, and they immediately sprang into action," she said. "They arranged for me and my grandchildren to go stay at a local motel for three days and gave me a debit card to buy clothing. We really didn't have anything but the clothes on our back." Ms. West said the fire started with an electrical short in a bedroom occupied by one of her grandchildren, causing an estimated $100,000 in damage. Experts estimate it could be six to eight months before she's able to move back into her house, yet she maintains a positive attitude through it all. "My father bought the house in 1965 and I bought it from him in 1985, a year after he had a stroke. So, it has a lot of sentimental value to me," she said. "It [the fire] was devastating really. But I'm just thankful we all made it out alive." Ms. West said she was shopping at a local retail store when the fire started around 1 or 2 p.m. on a Saturday. She said her daughter was home watching television and had just dozed off when she smelled smoke. When her daughter followed the smoke into the bedroom to check it out, the room was already on fire. "We have a volunteer fire department, so it took them a while to get out here and get the fire out," she said. "Because it was an electrical fire, they couldn't really put water on it until the electric company came out and shut the power off. "We just had to stand there and watch it burn." The family is currently living in a rental house just north of the base. Ms. West said she was heavily involved in CFC when she first came to work at Tinker in 1982. She quit volunteering with the organization about six or seven years later because of personal reasons, but this year "something just told me" to get involved again. "Our chief sent out a second request and something just told me I need to volunteer," she said. "My heart goes out for people anyway, and I just thought that would be a great way for me to do my part as a government employee." Ms. West said she is a prime example that disasters can happen to anybody. "Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita and this fire showed us that none of us are immune," she said. "That's why we need to support these [CFC] organizations. It's our duty." Ms. West, who was also chosen recently to serve as an Air Force mediator, said she's always donated to the CFC, but this year "you won't have to ask me where my CFC contributions will be going." And, she said, "I've got a story to tell anyone who is undecided."