Community gives to Orlando students who lost possessions in massive fire

ORLANDO, Fla. — Firefighters returned to the same neighborhood where they fought a three-alarm blaze last week, to help restore a sense of normalcy to 20 children who lost their possessions to fire at Royal Isles apartments.

With the help of the community, donated school supplies and some household goods were shared with the affected families, while the firefighters spent their time teaching the children to be at ease with emergency responders dressed in their gear.

“(They) see him standing tall, with all of his gear on, breathing his air. After the kids see that, they know that there’s a person inside there. It’s not just a scary uniform that looks like an alien spaceman,” explained firefighter/paramedic Jason Hooper, who is assigned to Station 11.

“So if there ever is an emergency they’ll run to us and not away from us,” he added.

The Orlando Fire Department worked with Publix Super Market and Walmart Supercenter to collect items for these children, including non-perishable food, blankets, backpacks and school supplies.

71 residents have been displaced by the flames.