LOCAL RED CROSS RESPONDS TO SEVEN HOME FIRES IN SIX DAYS

Firefighters from five departments battled this blaze at a house in Duvall on Sunday night. / Warren Bluhm/Door County Advocate

Local American Red Cross disaster workers have responded to  seven home and apartment fires in the past six days. If this pace continues, we will exceed our local 171 disasters from last fiscal year. When requested, a team of Red Cross responders coordinate assistance in the form of food, shelter, and emotional support due to fire damage to their homes. All disaster assistance is free and is a gift from the American people to the American people.

“We’re deeply saddened for those affected,” said Steve Hansen, Chapter Executive. “As we continue to provide support to those affected, we also encourage others to take action to minimize the risk of a home fire.”

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.
• 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 responders 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. Each team member donates their time and talent to help others and the group is always looking for additional recruits. Training is free and the rewards of helping others are great.

For more Red Cross fire safety and preparedness information visit www.redcross.org/homefires

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 redcross.org  call 800-RED-CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. All donations can be designated to support local disasters so you are really helping your communities get back on their feet.

The seven fires this week alone have been in:

• Green Bay, Brown County
• Peshtigo, Marinette County
• Oshkosh, Winnebago County
• Duvall, Kewaunee County
• Cato, Manitowoc County
• Luxemburg, Kewaunee County
• Maple Creek, Outagamie County