LOS ANGELES, Jan. 6, 2021 — American Red Cross Los Angeles Region volunteers from the San Gabriel Pomona Valley Chapter responded to a home fire impacting a family in La Puente.

On Tuesday afternoon, volunteers from the Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) responded to a home fire, impacting a family of seven.

“This is a difficult time for many people in Los Angeles and adding a home fire to the mix can be just devastating,” said Jennifer Dutton, Disaster Program Specialist and DAT member. “We were able help the family by providing financial assistance for lodging, food and clothing, if needed. This is our community, and we are committed to supporting our neighbors.”

The Red Cross helped coordinate emergency aid for the seven individuals impacted by providing direct client assistance and recovery planning to meet their disaster-caused needs. 

Red Cross volunteers have been trained to maintain social distancing and follow proper safety procedures to continue serving communities impacted by local disasters, during the coronavirus outbreak.

Just in the past week, Red Cross volunteers responded to 13 home fires in Los Angeles. With Los Angeles County facing a Safer at Home order, many more of us will be indoors and with a smaller group of loved ones. The Red Cross urges everyone to follow these safety tips to prevent fires and keep everyone safe:

STAY SAFE FROM HOME FIRES Test your smoke alarms monthly and practice your home fire escape plan until everyone can escape in less than two minutes — the amount of time you may have to get out of a burning home before it’s too late.

HOW YOU CAN TAKE ACTION:

• Make a financial donation to your local Red Cross to help people affected by home fires and other disasters in the United States and around the world. Visit redcross.org/donate.
• Visit redcross.org/fire for home fire safety information, including an escape plan to practice with your family. 
• Become a Red Cross volunteer by applying at redcross.org/volunteer.
• Download the Red Cross Emergency App by visiting redcross.org/apps or texting 'GETEMERGENCY' to 90999. This all-inclusive app combines more than 35 emergency alerts to help keep the user safe. And the Monster Guard mobile app is specially designed for kids, teaching them to prepare for emergencies at home by playing an engaging game.

Families in our community, across the country and around the world turn to the Red Cross every day to help #EndHomeFires. Hospital patients still need lifesaving blood; neighbors still need food, shelter and care after disasters; and military families still need support. Your help is needed to fulfill the urgent needs of our mission today at redcross.org/la.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/la or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossLA or @CruzRojaLA.