After flames claimed everything Riverside resident Teresa Baragar and her family owned Sunday at their Hope Avenue house, Baragar said, “Our whole world burnt down.”

The Riverside Fire Department, however, was immediately able to help begin rebuilding Baragar’s world. Battalion Chief Tony Perna handed the family a $100 cash card on the spot that they could use to rent a hotel room or buy food, clothing or anything else they needed immediately.

Riverside is one of 30 fire departments statewide participating in a new program, Supplying Aid to Victims of Emergency, that provides a $100 Mastercard gift card to people whose home has been at least 25 percent damaged by fire or other disaster such as flood or earthquake.

The program was announced Wednesday, Nov. 19, at Riverside Station 14 in the Canyon Crest neighborhood. It is intended as a complement to the Red Cross, which also assists many families displaced by fire. In some cases such as Baragar’s, however, several hours may pass before the Red Cross arrives.

“A SAVE card can be a lifeline for these families,” Riverside Fire Chief Michael Moore said.

San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga and Anaheim are among the other departments working with the California Fire Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to firefighters, their families and communities. The cash cards are paid for mostly by the firefighters themselves, with some corporate assistance including Chevron. No taxpayer money is used.

“As line firefighters, we see their pain and suffering,” said Tim Strack, president of the Riverside City Firefighters union. “We may have the fire knocked down in five or 10 minutes, but their pain will last a lot longer.”

Rancho Cucamonga Fire Chief Mike Costello called the program “a great way to give back.”

The cash cards are secured inside a battalion chief’s SUV during an incident. Like gift cards sold at stores, they are worthless until an official activates them.

Anyone who would like to donate to the program can contact Carroll Willis at the California Fire Foundation at 916-799-8148.

Contact the writer: brokos@pe.com or 951-368-9569