Chattanooga Red Cross volunteers and staffers have responded to calls for assistance 14 times since December 20. A total of 52 adults and children have received help including food, clothing, clean up kits and shelter. “This is an unusually high number of calls for us. On average, the Red Cross responds to around a dozen house fires in a month, but during December, we responded to that many in a week. Unfortunately, colder weather, cooking mishaps and other factors combine to turn the holiday season into home fire season. Having your home and possessions destroyed around this time of year is especially difficult. Our volunteers understand this and take time out of their family celebrations to help others,” said John Hitchens, director of emergency services for the Greater Chattanooga Area American Red Cross.
The Red Cross urges everyone to take time right now to be sure that homes are equipped with working smoke detectors, that heaters are being used properly and that precautions are taken when using fireplaces, grills and fryers. Tragedy can strike within moments and prevention provides the greatest peace of mind.
“While the tornadoes (last spring) brought into focus how important Red Cross responders are, we hope the community continues to support the day-to-day work of our volunteers who are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week responding to an average of 265 house fires annuallly. Thousands of dollars have gone to help these 14 families with tens of thousands more needed to help others throughout the year,” noted Barbara Alexander, CEO for the Chattanooga Area chapter of the American Red Cross.
The Greater Chattanooga Area American Red Cross is not government funded and relies on donations in order to deliver assistance to those in need.
More at chattanoogaredcross.org.