Red Cross encourages the community to test smoke alarms, practice escape plans
Red Cross volunteers helped 208 people affected by 35 home fires in Hickory Hills, Chicago, Oak Lawn, Sauk Village, Lombard, Glendale Heights, Cicero, Maywood, Broadview, Arlington Heights, Riverdale, Chicago Heights, South Holland, Shorewood, and Streator in the past week.
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. If you or someone you know needs assistance after a home fire or local disaster, please call 800-Red Cross (800-733-2767).
“Our hearts go out to our neighbors impacted by home fires,” said Adam Runkle, Regional Disaster Officer. “Because these disasters can happen anytime, anywhere, please help stay safe by testing your 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 2,002 lives across the country since launching in October 2014. In Illinois, the Red Cross volunteers and local partners installed more than 7,800 free smoke alarms in 2023 and made 7,890 households safer from the threat of home fires.
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.