“When a family loses everything in a fire, it is devastating,” said Barry Porter, Regional Executive Director, American Red Cross.  When the loss includes a family’s holiday memories and gifts that were already purchased, the blow is monumental.  Red Cross volunteers are currently assisting 17 people in Wake County that lost everything, including their holiday, to a home fire in the past two days.”

“Your gifts to the American Red Cross provided more than 12,000 nights of shelter for nearly 1,200 individuals affected by fire last fiscal year,” said Mr. Porter. “We expect that the need for assistance to be as great this year as ever, and we fear that, due to economic conditions, it could be greater.”

The Triangle Area Chapter depends on the generous support of financial donors to respond to community members who are affected by home fires.  You can help ensure the Red Cross can be ready to respond and meet the emergency needs of disaster victims by making a financial contribution by visiting the website at www.TriangleARC.org or by calling 231-1602.

The US Fire Administration reports that fires during the holiday season claim over 400 lives, and injure more than 1,650 people each year. You can imagine the additional stress that a disaster might put on a family during the holiday season.

The US Fire Administration offers several tips for preventing fires this holiday season:
•    Do not place Christmas tress close to a heat source.
•    If you are using an artificial tree, make sure it is flame retardant.
•    Inspect holiday lights yearly for frayed wires, bare spots, cracked sockets, or excessive wear.
•    Do not overload electrical outlets.
•    Do not leave holiday lights unattended.
•    Avoid using lit candles.
•    Use only nonflammable decorations.
•    Do not put wrapping paper in or near a fireplace.

For the complete list of safety tips, please visit www.Trianglearc.org/firesafe