Fundraiser started for Fargo Veteran displaced by Veteran’s Day Fire

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – U.S. Army Veteran Patrick Reed was at Hornbacher’s, part of his normal morning routine, on Veteran’s Day when he got a notification he couldn’t have imagined.

“During that time, my cameras went off and said the smoke alarm was detected. The first time it went off, I didn’t think it was me, I thought it was my neighbor buddy upstairs, I thought he was cooking, but I thought “No, he’s not up.”

Reed rushed home, and upon discovering how serious the fire was, he went to work alerting everyone in the building.

“Most of them are elderly, over 70, 75, so I went to get them. I started knocking on doors trying to wake everyone up, it’s not really easy, but the smoke started to consume the building.”

Reed says he was nervous. His dog Sasha was still trapped in the apartment.

“I opened the door, and once I opened the door my thought was that Sasha would run out when she knew the door was open and heard my voice, but I couldn’t get through, because the smoke was almost down to where there was only three feet before it was on the ground consuming the whole apartment, so she couldn’t come out.”

“We managed to get everyone out. That was the best part about it all, everyone got out, no one was hurt.”

Reed has been a staple in the community since moving here 12 years ago. He delivers groceries to many residents in the area.

“I help at all times. Ironically, when I get cash tips for deliveries, I keep the money in the cupholder in my truck, because as I’m driving, if I see people and they ask me. All the homeless guys know that, and it’s just ironic that I’m in this situation now.”

Since the fire, Reed says he’s been receiving help from the community, even if he’s not always comfortable taking it.

But it has reminded him of why he moved to North Dakota in the first place.

“I tell people all the time, North Dakota’s like that. Don’t listen to what other people say.”

You can donate to Reed’s fundraiser at this link.