Preparing for and Responding to Home Fires

A Red Cross team assess the damage to a fire following
fire on Christmas Eve in Jackson Heights (credit: M. Kokic).

The article in yesterday's NY Times, “Learn, Baby, Learn” by Steven Kurutz, provides an important reminder of the lasting impact that home fires can have one people’s lives. Not only are fires one of the leading causes of death in America – 7 fatalities per day in the United States on average – but they also devastate a household’s emotional and financial stability.

The NYC-area sees more home fires than anywhere else in the nation, and these numbers spike when temperatures drop. At fire scenes every day and night, after heroic firefighters extinguish a blaze, our Red Cross volunteers provide assistance and comfort to our devastated fellow New Yorkers who have just experienced a shocking life event. All too often, these life-claiming, soul-crushing events are entirely preventable.

Amid the recent arctic weather, I want to reiterate the importance of being mindful of the risks of using space heaters, fireplaces, candles and even stoves when heating your homes. A functioning smoke alarm is also invaluable in keeping your household safe—60% of fire deaths occur in households without a working fire alarm.

While fires can occur in any neighborhood, the majority of them occur in the most vulnerable communities in and around our City. Every day and night, thousands of times per year, trained Red Cross volunteers are aiding stunned families who have just fled for their lives, and who can least afford a catastrophic life event.

At the Red Cross we’re proud of our volunteers for serving our neighbors in need. But we would rather our fellow New Yorkers take basic steps to prevent a horrific fire from ever occurring: install and test your smoke alarms regularly, and heat your home safely.  A few minutes of preparation could save you and your family years of heartache.

Sincerely,

Josh Lockwood

Regional CEO

American Red Cross in Greater New York

In Case You Missed It - Jan 5

American Red Cross Disaster Relief volunteer Esme Ingledew takes notes as others clean up after a fire at the Housing Authority of Greenwich's Wilbur Peck Court apartments in Greenwich, CT. Photo: Tyler Sizemore

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 112 adults and 45 children following 58 local disasters. Here are some highlights of responses and activities from the last week:

Last Week in Review

• On the morning of January 3, the Red Cross provided emergency housing and funds for food and clothing to 8 families displaced by a fire in Spring Valley.
• On New Year’s Day, Red Cross volunteers provided emergency assistance at the scene of a tragic 3-alarm fire on 57th Ave in Queens.
• Red Cross volunteers provided support at the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration.
• Regional CEO Josh Lockwood wished everyone a Happy New Year. 
• We took a look back at some of our most iconic images from 2014.
• Following a dramatic rescue in North Amityville (Long Island), where two police officers pulled out two family members from a burning house, the Red Cross provided emergency housing to those affected.
• On December 30, the Red Cross responded to a pair of fires in Monticello: one fire left a single man homeless and the other displaced a family with two children.
• The day before, Red Cross Metro New York North volunteers in Greenwich, C.T. assisted two families who were displaced after a Christmas tree fire—a gentle reminder of the importance of fire safety during this time of year.
• We paid tribute to all the hopeful and resilient New Yorkers we helped in 2014 with this video.

Images of 2014

In Case You Missed It - Dec 22, 2014

Red Cross responds to a 5-Alarm fire in Ozone Park (Queens).

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 184 adults and 56 children following 55 local disasters. Here are some highlights of responses and activities from the last week.

Last Week in Review

• On December 18, a 5-Alarm fire tore through an apartment building in Ozone Park (Queens). Working with city agencies, the Red Cross setup a relief center at P.S. 65 and provided financial and emotional support to two dozen families displaced. Of those families, 11 were provided emergency housing.
• Last Friday, Red Cross Club Youth volunteers held their annual fundraising movie night. They screened the Holiday classic, Santa Clause, and raised money to benefit the Red Cross.
• The Long Island chapter of the Red Cross welcomed a new board member, Butch Yamali. 
• The staff and volunteers of the Greater NY Red Cross would like to wish you "Happy Holidays!" (to the tune of Taylor Swift's Shake It Off).  

In Case You Missed It - Dec 15

Residents of North Amityville motel provided with Red Cross blankets and services after they evacuated from a fire.

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 119 adults and 34 children following 61 local disasters.

LAST WEEK IN REVIEW

• Following a fatal fire at a motel in North Amityville (Suffolk County) last Saturday, the Red Cross was able to provide residents with food, financial assistance, emergency shelter and emotional support.
• Saturday, Astoria (Queens) residents awoke to flooded basements after a water mainbreak. Red Cross volunteers spent the day on scene providing emergency assistance to displaced families and distributing more than 40 flood clean-up kits.
• Early Friday morning, a 4-Alarm fire broke out in a East New York (Brooklyn) apartment building. Residents left homeless by the blaze turned to the Red Cross for emergency assistance.
• Through out the week, Red Cross Disaster Logistics teams continued to transfer supplies to newly purchased trailers that are pre-positioned in the event of large-scale disasters like Superstorm Sandy.
• Metro New York North Red Cross responded to a rash of fires, providing emergency assistance to families in Middletown, New City, Salisbury Mills and Haverstraw.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Tonight, the Red Cross will partner with the NY Islanders in support of our mission. You can still purchase discounted tickets to the final Red Cross Charity Night at Nassau Coliseum. Blood Drive on December 20th from 9am to 3pm at the Nassau Coliseum where all presenting donors will receive a voucher for two tickets to an Islanders home game during the 2014-15 regular season and a chance to win autographed Islanders memorabilia and more! Walk-ins are welcome, or to schedule an appointment to donate call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org. Reference sponsor code ISLANDERS.
• This Friday, Youth Services/Red Cross Clubs will be holding their annual fundraising movie night. This year’s screening will be the holiday classic “The Santa Clause” starring Tim Allen. Showtime starts at 5pm at the GNY Chapter 520 W 49th Street. Popcorn and drinks will be sold. RSVP via email at Amanda.crabbe@redcross.org.

In Case You Missed It - Dec. 8

Three young NY girls pose for a photo at our annual Winter Wonderland holiday event. 

Last week, the New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 91 adults and 28 children from across the Greater NY Region following 43 disasters.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• On Monday, December 15, the NY Islanders will be playing to benefit the Red Cross. Find discounted tickets at: www.newyorkislanders.com/redcrosstickets

WEEK IN REVIEW 

• Winter Wonderland, our annual event for children affected by local disasters disasters, took place last Saturday in Times Square’s Hard Rock Café!
• Last weekend, Greenwich Hospital and Jefferson Valley Mall hosted Holiday Mail for Heroes card-writing events.
• On Friday, during our Staff meeting, the Greater NY Red Cross Client Services Team was recognized for their tireless efforts providing services to residents affected by disasters every day.
• Young volunteers from Red Cross Youth Clubs learned about disaster preparedness during their Zombie Apocalypse party held on Dec. 5. 
• Early last week, we shared the video of Carmen Allende, who in late November turned to the Red Cross after a fire destroyed her Bronx home. 
• Right after #GivingTuesday, we said THANK YOU to all those donors and volunteers who constantly support our cause.
• During #GivingTuesday, the Red Cross and Bitly partnered to launch Hopely, a new tool to promote Red Cross services and encourage online donations.

The Jefferson Valley Mall Holiday Mail for Heroes card-writing event. 

In Case You Missed It- Dec. 2

During the past week, the American Red Cross at Greater NY responded to 52 disasters and emergencies, helped 104 adults, 41 children, and distributed 14 Comfort Kits.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• On Dec. 2 for #GivingTuesday, we encourage you to donate to our cause and give something that means something.

LAST WEEK IN REVIEW

• On Dec. 1, the volunteers in our logistics team shared pictures of the trucks used for their fleet activities.
• For Black Friday on Nov. 28, we encouraged our supporters to check our Holiday Gift Catalog. 
• Our volunteers, always eager to help, responded to a fire at a Senior Apartment Complex on Thanksgiving eve, Nov. 27, at Peekskill, New York, which displaced four individuals. 
• Thanksgiving was the occasion to thank all of you who make our mission possible. 
• Right before Thanksgiving, we shared some tips for safe traveling. 
• Have you ever thought of the comfort that a single blanket brings to a person? Early last week, one of our volunteers, Ronnie G. Rigos, appeared on a Red Cross blanket PSA.
• The Red Cross was on scene to help during a 3-alarm fire in Harlem on Nov. 25.
• Early last week, on Nov. 24, DART Team members transport supplies to Buffalo due to the snowstorm.