Local American Red Cross volunteers responded to an apartment fire on the 5100 block of Lane Ave in Fresno, CA at approximately 4:30 p.m. today. The team of Red Cross volunteers helped coordinate assistance to the 9 adults and 6 children, in the form of food, shelter, and emotional support due to fire damage to their units.
“We’re deeply saddened for those affected,” said Ellen Knapp, Regional Chief Executive Officer. “As we continue to provide support to those affected, we also encourage others to take action to minimize the risk of a home fire this holiday season.”
The Red Cross recommends two easy steps to help protect your home and loved ones from a fire: get a smoke alarm and create a fire escape plan.
- Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
- Place smoke alarms on every level of your home, including bedrooms.
- Test smoke alarms once a month and replace batteries at least once a year.
- Have a plan in place can help you escape, including at least two ways to escape from every room of your home and a meeting spot at a safe distance from your home.
- Discuss the plan with everyone in the household and practice it at least twice a year.
Red Cross volunteers on the scene were members of the Chapter’s Disaster Action Team, a group of specially trained volunteers who respond to the scene of a local disaster when called upon at any time of the day or night.
For more Red Cross fire safety and preparedness information visit www.redcross.org/homefires or www.arccentralvalley.org
To make a financial donation to your local Red Cross to help people affected by house fires and other disasters here in the United States and around the world, people can click, call or text - visit www.arccentralvalley.org or call (559) 455-1000, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
