Red Cross: Safely heat your home as colder weather sets in across Northwestern Pennsylvania

Home fires typically increase during colder months

[ERIE, FEB. 1, 2022]- The new year has kicked off with an alarming rate of home fires in northwestern Pennsylvania. American Red Cross data shows the number of home fires we responded to in Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango and Warren Counties in January has nearly doubled since December.

The Northwestern Pennsylvania Chapter of the Red Cross responded to 11 home fires in January compared to six home fires in December. The Red Cross helped 32 individuals in this area with urgent needs like emergency lodging, financial assistance and recovery planning after home fires this past month.

As residents in northwestern Pennsylvania continue to turn on the heat to stay warm this winter, the Red Cross urges families to safely heat their homes to avoid fires. Heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires.

"We are grateful for the support of donors, local fire service agencies, community partners and volunteers who have helped us assist families in need," Mary Rogers, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Northwestern Pennsylvania Chapter, said.

HOW TO HEAT YOUR HOME SAFELY

A 2020 Red Cross survey showed that more than half of us have used a space heater - which is involved in most fatal home heating fires. Provide at least three feet of space around all heating equipment, and never leave space heaters unattended. Follow these additional tips:

• If you must use a space heater, place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface, such as a ceramic tile floor. Don't place it on rugs and carpets, or near bedding and drapes; keep away children and pets.
• Plug space heater power cords directly into outlets - never an extension cord. Turn it off every time you leave the room or go to sleep.

• Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.

• Never leave a fire burning in the fireplace unattended. Make sure any embers in the fireplace are extinguished before going to bed or leaving home. Use a glass or metal fire screen to keep embers in the fireplace.

• Have furnaces, chimneys, fireplaces, wood and coal stoves inspected annually by a professional and cleaned if necessary.

TAKE TWO STEPS TO PREVENT FIRE TRAGEDIES

To help protect your family year-round, test your smoke alarms monthly and practice your home fire escape plan until everyone can escape in less than two minutes - the amount of time you may have to get out of a burning home before it's too late.

Visit redcross.org/fire for more information, including an escape plan to practice with your family. You can also download the free Red Cross Emergency app by searching for 'American Red Cross' in app stores.

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 visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.