When the May 16 tornado carved a destructive path through North St. Louis, it left behind crumpled roofs, shattered windows, and the quiet devastation that follows a storm. In the aftermath, a different kind of force arrived. Compassion, grit, and solidarity swept through the area as the community and partner volunteers came together.

Firefighters from IAFF Local 73, all of them off duty, stepped up to help stabilize the hardest-hit areas. With the rescue and recovery phase complete, they began a new mission: helping their neighbors begin to rebuild. The first step in the rebuilding process is preventing further damage.

Leading the effort, Local 73 President Dan Clark and IAFF 2nd District Vice President Mark Woolbright quickly mobilized support through their national network. They secured an IAFF Disaster Relief Trailer, fully stocked with essential supplies and ready to work.

“We relied on being part of a 350,000-plus member organization and their contacts to get a fully stocked trailer here in St. Louis,” said President Clark.

Thanks to additional donations from Maplewood Lowe’s, the trailer included gloves, face masks, tools, ladders, tarps, and lumber. The Local 73 team used these resources to tarp damaged roofs, board up broken windows, and remove debris from storm-battered properties.

Their efforts were coordinated through 4 The Ville and McCarthy Construction, which provided a list of homes in need. The partnership ensured that firefighters could reach the families requiring immediate assistance.

Among the volunteers were three retired firefighters. These were individuals who had once served on the front lines and felt called to serve again. For them, the experience was both humbling and gratifying. “To be able to help people again, to get back out there and serve—it meant a lot,” one retiree shared.

‍Local 73 Secretary David Rodriguez has been on the ground nearly every day since the tornado struck. “Firefighters are helpers. It’s in our nature,” Rodriguez said. “With the rescue efforts done, we couldn’t just stand back and not do anything for our neighbors.”

In the heart of North St. Louis, the impact of their work was immediate and deeply felt. One resident, watching her windows being boarded up, was stunned to learn that the firefighters were volunteering their time.

But for the members of Local 73, the work was not about recognition. It was about community.“The community hasn't given up,” Rodriguez added. “The resiliency and determination we’ve seen gives hope to St. Louis. People are coming together. That’s what will get us through.” The storm may have knocked down trees and torn apart homes. It did not, however, break the spirit of North St. Louis. Thanks to a dedicated team of off-duty firefighters and the strength of neighbors helping neighbors, recovery is already underway.

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