Home Fires Are the Most Common Emergency in U.S.

Home fires are fast, hot, dark and deadly, according to Ready.gov, the federal preparedness web site. The American Red Cross responds to about 70,000 disasters every year and most of them are home fires. The fires happen all over the country, at all times of the day and night, in all kinds of weather.

To help avoid a fire in your home, follow these Red Cross fire prevention tips:

1. Keep flammable items at least three feet away from anything that gets hot, such as space heaters.

2. Never smoke in bed.

3. Keep matches and lighters out of your little ones’ reach.

4. Turn portable heaters off when you go to sleep or leave the room.

5. Stay in the kitchen when cooking. If you leave the kitchen, even for a little while, turn off the stove.

6. Keep anything flammable – pot holders, towels, clothing – away from the stove.

7. Keep your pets off the cooking surface and countertop.

8. Keep your barbecue grill at least 10 feet away from siding and decks and don’t locate it under eaves or overhanging branches.

9. Avoid using candles.

10. Never use a generator indoors, including a garage, basement, crawlspace or any partially enclosed area.

HOME FIRE CAMPAIGN The Red Cross Home Fire Campaign was launched in October to teach people about fire safety in neighborhoods at high risk for fires and install smoke alarms in some of these communities. The campaign goal is to reduce the number of deaths and injuries from home fires in this country by as much as 25 percent over the next five years.

Working with fire departments and community groups nationwide, hundreds of Red Cross employees and volunteers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico have gone door-to-door to talk to people about fire safety and installed thousands of smoke alarms in communities across the country.

#GIVEWHATFIRETAKES To support home fire survivors across the country, the Red Cross has launched a new social media campaign called #GiveWhatFireTakes, in conjunction with the Home Fire Campaign. You can help by taking part in #GiveWhatFireTakes and making a donation that could support families after a home fire and other disasters.

TWO WAYS TO DONATE

SET GOALS AND FUNDRAISE WITH CROWDRISE Whether you form a team or fundraise as an individual, Crowdrise puts you on the front lines of fundraising for home fire prevention and recovery. We even helped provide easy goals to help fundraise through your networks.

CHOOSE YOUR OWN AMOUNT A new donation page on redcross.org allows you to choose a support amount based on how much you can give. Donation levels represent a range of items that the Red Cross typically provides after a fire.

Visit our Crowdrise campaign page, make a direct donation on redcross.org and share what moved you to join the campaign on social media with #GiveWhatFireTakes.