When the fire broke out at 2:30 A.M., Terrance's wife Melanie and her brother Steve were both asleep. Terrance was watching television, and noticed flames outside the window of his apartment. Running to wake up Melanie and Steve, the three escaped their home safely.
The three other units of thier apartment comlex were also occupied, and everyone from the other families was able to make it safely into the parking lot as well. Terrance, Melanie, and Steve were met by a Western Wisconsin chapter American Red Cross disaster responder moments later. The Red Cross made an initial assessment of each family's situation, and comleted some basic paperwork. By the time the fire engines were moved so that residents could access their vehicles, each family had a place to stay. Terrance and his family were issued a voucher for a motel stay by the Red Cross.
After getting some rest in the morning, Terrance and his family met with the Red Cross again and received vouchers for food, clothing, and two additional room nights at the motel. Melanie also received a stuffed animal which she bonded with immediately. After a couple of days, their family and residents of the other apartment units were issued reimbursements from their landlord, allowing them to find a new apartment and pay the deposit.