CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 10, 2022 – The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) has crisis-trained chaplains in New York City to provide emotional and spiritual support to those who have been displaced or otherwise impacted by an apartment fire which took place in the Bronx on Sunday morning, Jan. 9.
Seventeen people are dead, including eight children, and at least 44 were injured. About 200 firefighters battled the five-alarm fire. The New York City Fire Department said a malfunctioning electric space heater, plugged in to give extra heat, started the fire in the 19-story building.
“Our hearts go out to all those who lost loved ones, all those impacted by this devastating fire, and the first responders.” said Josh Holland, assistant director of the BG-RRT. “We want to show our support as we send crisis-trained chaplains to provide emotional and spiritual support for all of those who are hurting.”
Crisis-trained chaplains are also serving in seven locations across the country after various natural disasters. Chaplains are providing emotional and spiritual support in; Boulder County, Colorado after the Marshall Fire destroyed hundreds of homes; Mayfield, Kentucky, after a string of December tornadoes; Whatcom County, Washington, after historic flooding; and in three locations in Louisiana, where they have been since Sept. 1 after Hurricane Ida devastated the area.
For more information on the ministry, including videos, photos, news articles and an interactive map of former and current deployments, visit the BG-RRT press kit or BillyGraham.org/RRT. Updates can also be found at Facebook.com/RRTChaplains.
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About the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team:
The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team was developed by Franklin Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It has since grown into an international network of chaplains in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia who are specifically trained to deal with crisis situations. They have deployed to more than 550 disaster sites across the globe, including shootings, floods, hurricanes, wildfires and tornadoes.
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Media Contact:
Christine Batchelder
cbatchelder@bgea.org