As we celebrated Christmas this week, I kept one eye on the candles that were lit around the house and worried every time I heard sirens rushing by my neighborhood to unknown destinations.
According to USFA and NFPA, “home fires are more prevalent in winter than in any other season”. That makes it all the more important to be vigilant about our surroundings while we are busy with celebrations.
Over the last week, many states have had to contend with strong winter storms- tornadoes, power outages, and snow wreaked havoc across the South and Midwest. Our Red Cross chapters responded to those events, while continuing to help with home and apartment fires all across the country. This meant that hundreds of volunteers gave up parts of their holiday weekend to drive out and help families who were stuck out in the cold.
I felt amazed and humbled, especially after reading the testimonials that people left on our Facebook page. I’ve copied a few below. While I felt relief that these people’s families were okay, it was also heartbreaking to think about losing one’s home during what is supposed to be a happy time of year.
Please be safe this winter and follow some very easy-to-remember tips to prevent fires.
