(Undated) — The American Red Cross has released some sobering numbers regarding home heating accidents. According to the American Red Cross in just the first nine days of the new year, they responded to nearly 60 percent more home fires than in 2017. This may be attributed to the recent string of dangerously cold days, as colder temperatures are often linked to a rise in home fires. The Red Cross responds to as many as 64,000 disasters every year and most of these are home fires. To combat these statistics, the Red Cross launched its Home Fire Campaign in 2014, focusing on installing free smoke alarms in neighborhoods at high risk for fires and teaching people about fire safety. Since the start of the campaign, the Red Cross and partners have installed more than 1 million smoke alarms and helped to save 332 lives. To learn more visit RedCross.org.
