Media Contact:
Christine Welch, Communications Director
Email: christine.welch@redcross.org
Phone: 909-374-0376 

                                                                          

Volunteers Support Around-the-Clock Relief Effort

SAN DIEGO — May 6, 2021 — The American Red Cross of San Bernardino County continues to aid those affected by the Upland multi-unit apartment fire. Since requested by authorities at the outbreak of the fire on May 4, disaster workers have been providing assistance to anyone who has been displaced by the fire. 

The Red Cross is currently providing food, emergency lodging in hotel rooms, health services and more for more than 75 individuals (36 families) who were displaced by the fire. All services are being delivered in accordance with COVID-19 safety precautions.

Trained Red Cross volunteers and staff remain on call around-the-clock and are ready to assist in various aspects including sheltering, feeding, disaster assessment, casework and more. Those displaced by the fire seeking assistance can call 1-800-RED CROSS.

Home fires remain the most frequent disaster during COVID-19, and more than 90 percent of Red Cross responses each year are the result of home fires.

The Red Cross shares the following ways to prepare for a home fire: 

• Help keep your family safe by taking two simple steps: Practice your two-minute escape drill and test your smoke alarms monthly. 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 another landmark, where everyone knows to meet.
• In addition, place smoke alarms on each level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.
• Teach children what smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear one. 
• Teach household members to STOP, DROP and ROLL if their clothes should catch on fire. 
• If a fire occurs in your home, GET OUT, STAY OUT and CALL FOR HELP. Never go back inside for anything or anyone.

Visit SoundTheAlarm.org/SoCal for more tips and to register for a free virtual home fire safety consultation. You can also sign up to receive an installation of free smoke alarms from the Red Cross and partners through its Sound the Alarm program.

Please follow @SoCal_RedCross on Twitter for the latest updates.  

About the American Red Cross Southern California Region   
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 public to perform its mission. The Red Cross Southern California Region proudly serves San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial Counties. In addition to carrying out disaster preparedness and response programs, blood collection, health and safety training, international services programs and supporting the military community, the Southern California Region provides nutritional counseling through its Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program in San Diego and helps communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters through its Prepare SoCal and Prepare San Diego initiatives. For more information, please visit redcross.org/SoCal or cruzrojaamericana.org, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram and YouTube. 

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