Local Volunteers to Distribute Home Fire Safety Tips

Red Cross and Firefighters from Fond Du Lac working together at 2012 MLK day event.

American Red Cross staff and volunteers, fire department, Girl Scouts, Fresh Start representatives will honor the service of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by canvassing neighborhoods to provide tips on fire safety and prevention, and to remind residents that home fires are one disaster that can be prevented.

During the MLK National Day of Service volunteers will be talking with people who are at home about ways to heat and cook safely, the value of smoke alarms and the need to create and practice a household fire escape plan. Fire safety and prevention door hangers in English and in Spanish will be provided to all homes volunteers visit, and left for neighbors who are not at home.

Anyone can be affected by a fire, regardless of background or geographic location, so when a volunteer rings your doorbell to encourage you to take the simple steps necessary to protect your family and home from fire, please listen up.

Community Outreach Teams include:

Saturday, January 19^th Meetings at 9:00a.m. for briefing & canvassing instructions

Fond du Lac/North Fond du Lac: Red Cross office, 272 N. Main Street

Appleton: Fire Station 1, 700 Drew Street

Grand Chute: Fire Station, 2250 W. Grand Chute Boulevard

Neenah/Menasha: Fire Station 40, 1326 Cold Springs Road

Sheboygan: Fire Station 3, 1326 N. 25^th Street

Monday, January 21st

Iola: Red Cross office in Waupaca, 9:00a.m. For the second consecutive year a team of Fresh Start staff/volunteers will canvass Iola and then Scandinavia if time permits.

Additionally:

Iron Mountain Michigan area: We have partnered with many local school districts to send information home in the children’s Friday folders.  School districts that have received the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. fire prevention door hangers include Iron Mountain, Woodland Elementary, Niagara, Norway, North Dickinson.  About 2,000 door hangers were distributed.

Green Bay School District: Is also sending fire prevention information home with the children.

Manitowoc: Has already been canvassed thanks to a local school group.

Home fires are the most common disaster that the Red Cross responds to—the Northeast Wisconsin Chapter responded to 171 local disasters last year with the national average being 90% are residential fires. And, according to the National Fire Protection Association, fires claim nine lives every day in the U.S. Make sure you and your loved ones are not part of these statistics.

With many people have the day-off on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we are urging residents to take time with their families to create awareness. This includes practicing escape routes, establishing your meeting place, building a kit and making an overall plan should an emergency strike.

Lifesaving fire safety and prevention information is also available on the American Red Cross public website, www.redcross.org.

For additional information and to become involved in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service please contact Lisa Stanchfield, Community Disaster Education leader, at 920-904-0820 or at Lisa.Stanchfield@redcross.org.