LOS ANGELES, Feb. 13, 2023 — American Red Cross Los Angeles Region volunteers from the Western Los Angeles Chapter responded to a fire that spread across multiple buildings and impacted nearly 100 people in the Westlake neighborhood early on Monday. In partnership with the City of Los Angeles, the Red Cross is providing emergency shelter, food, water, health and emotional support services to anyone impacted by the fire. The shelter is located at the Lafayette Recreation Center at 625 S. La Fayette Park Pl., Los Angeles, CA 90057.

“Our hearts go out to our neighbors who were impacted by this fire,” said Sean Inoue, Executive Director, American Red Cross Western Los Angeles Chapter. “Because these disasters can happen anytime, anywhere, please help stay safe by testing your smoke alarms each month and practicing your home fire escape plan until everyone in your household can escape in two minutes or less.”

STAY SAFE FROM HOME FIRES

Since January, Red Cross volunteers have responded to 50 local emergencies, providing more than 500 individuals with support and guidance through their disaster recovery journey. The Red Cross urges everyone to follow these safety tips to prevent emergencies like home fires and keep everyone safe:

1. Test your smoke alarms each month and practice your escape plan until everyone can get out in less than two minutes — the amount of time you may have to get out of a burning home before it is too late.
2. In your escape plan, include at least two ways to exit every room in your home. Select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone knows to meet.
3. While practicing your escape plan, teach children what a smoke alarm sounds like. Talk about fire safety and what to do in an emergency.
4. Place smoke alarms on each level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas. Change the batteries at least once a year, if your model requires it.
5. Also check the manufacturer’s date of your smoke alarms. If they’re 10 years or older, they likely need to be replaced. Follow your alarm’s manufacturer instructions.

IF YOU NEED HELP Angelenos who need assistance can visit redcross.org/LAhomefire or call 310-445-9914 to schedule an appointment for a free smoke alarm installation. During the 20-minute home visits, Red Cross volunteers will also share information on the causes of home fires, how to prevent them, what to do if a fire starts and how to create an escape plan.

OUR CAMPAIGN TO #ENDHOMEFIRES Home fires take seven lives each day in the U.S., most often in homes without working smoke alarms. That’s why the Red Cross is working with partners to install free smoke alarms in high-risk communities and help families create escape plans through its Home Fire Campaign — which has saved at least 1,505 lives across the country since launching in October 2014. In Los Angeles, the Red Cross and local partners have installed 6,624 free smoke alarms and made more than 2,304 households safer from the threat of home fires. To learn more about the campaign and how you can get involved, visit redcross.org/LAhomefire.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/la or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossLA.