In the month of September, Red Cross volunteers helped 475 people affected by 105 home fires in communities across the Illinois Region.

The Red Cross provided: emergency financial assistance, food, relief items like toiletries, health and mental health services, and one-on-one support to connect people to available recovery assistance.

“Our hearts go out to everyone who has been impacted by the devastation of home fires,” said Kellie O’Connell, Chief Executive Officer for the Illinois Red Cross. “Home fires can happen anytime, anywhere, that’s why we encourage families to stay safe by testing smoke alarms each month and practicing your home fire escape plan until everyone in your household can escape in two minutes or less.”

For home fire safety resources and tips, visit redcross.org/fire or download the free Red Cross Emergency App (search “American Red Cross” in app stores or go to redcross.org/apps).

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 2,577 lives across the country since launching in October 2014. Across the country, Red Cross volunteers and local partners have installed more than 3.2 million free smoke alarms and made more than 3.5 million people safer from the threat of home fires.

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 or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

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