As continued drought and the threat of wildfires remain in the spotlight, the American Red Cross Capital Region reminds communities to also remain vigilant in their efforts to prevent home fires.
“Home fires are the most common local disaster in our region, and our fire responses have been on the rise throughout the year,” said Kathleen Weis, Chief Executive Officer for the Red Cross Capital Region. “It is critical that residents be aware of the risks and take preventative measures to keep families and homes safe.”
The Red Cross offers some simple steps that residents can take to prevent home fires, and to be prepared should one occur.
Prevention & Preparation
Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside and outside sleeping areas.
Test your smoke alarms & replace batteries at least once a year.
Keep anything that can catch fire away from the stove, oven or any appliance in the kitchen that generates heat.
Do not leave the stove/grill unattended when frying, grilling or broiling food.
Clean cooking surfaces on a regular basis to prevent grease buildup.
Keep children, pets and home decorations away from lit candles.
Keep matches and lighters up high in a locked cabinet.
Purchase a fire extinguisher to keep in the kitchen. Contact the local fire department to receive training on the proper use of extinguishers.
Make and practice your home evacuation plan - be sure all family members know the evacuation plan.
Teach all family members to STOP, DROP and ROLL, if their clothes catch on fire.
Fires kill more Americans each year than all natural disasters combined, and affect people from all backgrounds and geographic locations.
Download free American Red Cross mobile apps, which provide instant access to information on how to prepare for and respond to emergency situations. The apps can be downloaded from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross or by going to redcross.org/mobileapps.
Learn more about fire prevention by visiting www.redcross.org.
