Home fires claim more lives in a typical year than all natural disasters combined. During Fire Prevention Week (October 6-12), the American Red Cross Northwest Region reminds everyone to test your smoke alarms each month and practice your escape plan until everyone can get out in less than two minutes.

“Fire now travels faster through homes, largely due to popular open-concept layouts and synthetic materials,” said Jenny Carkner, Northwest Region Disaster Officer. “The sooner an alarm alerts you to a fire, the sooner you can get out. This is critical because fire experts say you may have less than two minutes to escape a burning home before it’s too late.”

The threat of home fires is of particular concern in our Northwest Region. For the last three years our volunteers were called to a higher number of incidents than any other Red Cross region in the western United States. The past two years, the number of those responses has exceeded 1,000.

“The statistics speak for themselves,” said Amanda Appel, Client Care Manager for the region. “It’s a huge motivator for our preparedness volunteers to get smoke alarms into as many homes as possible, especially those in high-frequency areas.”   

NEED SMOKE ALARMS: Visit RedCross.org/NWHomefire to request free smoke alarm installation.

SUPPORT THE CAUSE: Thanks to donations, our services are free and available for all those in need. Help families prepare for, respond to and recover from home fires by giving at RedCross.org/NWHomefire or texting the word HOMEFIRE to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Smoke alarm safety:

Place smoke alarms on each level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.

In addition to testing your alarms once a month, change the batteries at least once a year, if your model requires it.

Also check the manufacturer’s date of your smoke alarms. If they’re 10 years or older, they need to be replaced because the sensor becomes less sensitive over time. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Tips for creating your home fire escape plan and practicing your 2-minute drill:

Everyone in your household should know two ways to escape from each room in your home.

Smoke is dangerous. Get low and go!

Decide where to meet once you get outside. Select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as a neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone knows to meet.

Get out and stay out. Never go back inside for people, pets or things.

If a fire starts, you may have less than two minutes to get to safety. Time your fire drill and find out: what’s your escape time?

While practicing your escape plan, teach children what a smoke alarm sounds like. Talk about fire safety and what to do in an emergency.

Visit RedCross.org/NWHomefire for more information, including a home fire escape plan to create and practice with your household. You can also download our free Emergency app (search “American Red Cross” in app stores). 

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.