Red Cross: Preventing Home Fires

by Melissa LaScaleia

According to statistics, more people die every year in home fires than in any other natural disaster combined across the United States, including California wildfires, tornados, and earthquakes. 

In the Horry and Georgetown areas, the American Red Cross responds to a home fire approximately three times per week. Volunteers provide care and support for the family displaced from the event.  

“We want to make sure they have a safe place to stay, a warm blanket, and financial assistance to cover their immediate needs, to bridge the gap to the next day,” says Amy Brauner, the executive director for the American Red Cross Southeast division. “It could be as simple as a toothbrush or a pair of socks.”  

Several months ago, an apartment fire in Barefoot Landing, North Myrtle Beach, spread throughout the attic of eighteen units, destroying most. Eleven adults and one child were affected. Red Cross volunteer Roger Keally was one of the first volunteer responders. He was at home when he heard fire engines, and ran the two blocks to the scene to offer assistance, beating the second fire engine there. 

The Red Cross wants to assist our community in staying safe this winter. In addition to responding to home fires when they happen, they also work to help prevent them.  

In October 2914, they implemented the Home Fire Campaign, in which volunteers conduct a home visit to check smoke alarms. If the alarms are not working properly, they will replace them free of charge. 

They help you build an evacuation plan to escape your home in two minutes, the time it takes for your house to burn down, so that no matter where you are in your house, the second floor, up higher, or in the back, you know how to escape. 

They also provide home fire safety checks, assessing what in your home is a potential fire hazard and how to fix it, as well as a checklist on how to stay safe.  

“We call home fires the everyday disaster because it can happen to anyone anytime,” says Amy.  

In the past year, a total of 184 homes in Horry and Georgetown counties were made safer; 318 smoke alarms were installed; 176 escape plans were made; and 514 people were served.  

Since the inception of the Home Fire Campaign through September of 2018, the Red Cross and their volunteers have been directly responsible for saving fifty-four lives in South Carolina— seven in Horry and Georgetown counties. 

(The statistic comes from verifying that the Red Cross installed the fire alarm or built an evacuation plan and the family escaped safely afterwards.)    

To learn more about their program, and request a Red Cross home safety inspection visit:  www.soundthealarm.org.