This Community Risk Reduction Week (January 20-26), the American Red Cross of Greater New York encourages everyone to follow important steps to prevent home fires. A working smoke alarm can cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half. That is why, over the past decade, Red Cross volunteers have installed more than 232,000 free smoke alarms in nearly 83,000 homes on Long Island, in New York City, in Westchester and Rockland counties and in Greenwich, Conn.
Throughout the region, the Home Fire Campaign has saved at least 85 lives over the past decade and brought fire safety tips — including how to make a two-minute escape plan — to countless others. Across the nation, the Home Fire Campaign has helped save at least 2,266 lives since its inception.
“When someone experiences a home fire, it is one of the worst days of their life,” said Doreen Thomann-Howe, Regional CEO for the American Red Cross of Greater New York. “Every second counts during a home fire, and so the work our volunteers and partners do all throughout the year to install smoke alarms and share fire safety information is incredibly vital. We invite everyone to put on a red vest and join us to help continue our campaign and make our neighbors safer from home fires.”
Red Cross Home Fire Campaign volunteers Patrick Desinor and Alina Shevtsova stand in the lobby of a building in lower Manhattan.
HOME FIRE RISK Home fires account for most Red Cross disaster responses. Through the first three weeks of January, the Red Cross has responded to a startling 60% increase in residential fires throughout the Greater New York region. In a typical year, the Red Cross of Greater New York responds on average to more than 1,300 home fires throughout the region, helping nearly 10,000 people from more than 3,600 households each year. Every eight minutes, the Red Cross responds one of more than 60,000 disasters disaster somewhere in the United States — most often, a home fire.
Throughout the nation, home fires claim seven lives on average every day, most often in homes without working smoke alarms. In a typical year, home fires kill more people than all natural disasters combined in the United States — and cause more than $7 billion in property damage every year.
MAKING HOMES SAFER A working smoke alarm can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half. Fire experts agree that you may have as little as two minutes to escape a burning home before it’s too late to get out.
People who request an appointment to install a free smoke alarm can expect to be visited by a team of Red Cross volunteers who are clearly identifiable as being with the Red Cross. The team will check any smoke alarms that are already installed and install free smoke alarms where needed — at minimum, homes should have smoke alarms on every level and outside each sleeping area. The team will also share fire safety tips, including helping a household think through their two-minute fire escape plan as well as the items that should be included an emergency go-bag.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED The life-saving work of the Home Fire Campaign relies on the work of volunteers. Residents of New York City with a valid driver’s license are particularly encouraged to apply. Training is provided. To learn more about volunteer opportunities with the Home Fire Campaign, visit www.soundthealarm.org/gny.
THANK YOU TO SUPPORTERS
The Home Fire Campaign is powered by volunteers, community partners and donors, and aims to prevent deaths and injuries from home fires through education and the installation of free smoke alarms.
In New York City, the Red Cross is especially grateful to the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) and the FDNY Foundation for their partnership and support of the program across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island, where nearly 74,000 homes have been made safer (as of December 31, 2024).
The Home Fire Campaign has been generously supported by many donors over the past 10 years. The Red Cross of Greater New York would like to thank the following donors for their support of this life-saving program: Frank J. Antun Foundation, Ming Chiang & Mengmei Lin, Samuel Chu, Neil Clark, Marian Conway, Joselyn Cruz and Adam Oestreich, Edward and Paula Fichtner, FDNY Foundation, Hello Taiwan, Andrea Kantor, Mirna Eusebio Lithgow, William Macchione, Marsh McLennan, Mastercard, Lee Mueller, National Grid, New York Cancer & Blood Specialists, The New York Community Trust, New York City Football Club (NYCFC), New York Yankees Foundation, Northwell Health, Tochi Iroku-Malize, PSE&G, PSEG Long Island, Katherine Renfrew, Stuart Richner, Peter B & Adeline W Ruffin Foundation Inc., Denise Littlefield Sobel, Stacey Sweet, Staten Island Foundation, J. T. Tai & Company Foundation, Inc., Ping Y. Tai Foundation, The Wasily Family Foundation Inc., Kerry and Philson Yim.
PHOTOS OF HOME FIRE CAMPAIGN IN ACTION OVER THE YEARS
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 or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
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