LOS ANGELES, Dec. 21, 2020 — The American Red Cross Los Angeles Region responded to multiple home fires this weekend that impacted eight families in Lancaster, Temple City, Lake Hughes, Pasadena and South LA.

Volunteers from the Red Cross Disaster Action Team responded to eight home fires providing emergency financial assistance and virtual one-on-one support for 17 individuals affected. We will continue to provide assistance and help with addressing their disaster-caused needs.

SEE: How Red Cross provides assistance during COVID-19 pandemic (YouTube)

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

With Los Angeles County facing a Safer at Home order this holiday season, many more of us will be indoors and with a smaller group of loved ones. Red Cross LA urges everyone to follow these decorating safety tips to prevent fires and keep everyone safe:

1. Check all holiday light cords to make sure they aren’t frayed or broken. Don’t string too many strands of lights together — no more than three per extension cord. Turn off all holiday lights when going to bed or leaving the house.
2. Ensure outside decorations are for outdoor use and fasten lights securely to your home or trees. If using hooks or nails outside, make sure they are insulated to avoid electrocution or fire hazard.
3. Look for the fire-resistant label when buying an artificial tree. Keep it away from fireplaces, radiators and other sources of heat. Never use electric lights on metallic trees.
4. If getting a live tree, make sure it’s fresh and keep it watered. Bend the needles up and down to make sure no needles fall off.
5. Don’t light the fireplace if hanging stockings on the mantel.
6. Check the labels of older decorations. Some older tinsel is lead-based. If using angel hair, wear gloves to avoid irritation. Avoid breathing in artificial snow.
7. Have good, stable placement when using a ladder and wear shoes that allow for good traction.

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.