Red Cross offers tips for fire safety during the holidays

PALMER — Statistically, the holiday season is the highest risk period for household fires. Earlier this month, a house fire forced a Palmer couple from their home. The wife was hospitalized for a period of time and the husband is looking for a new place to live.

The Red Cross came to their aid and provided financial support so they could purchase immediate needs and temporary lodging. The Palmer Seventh Day Adventists Church also donated clothing. The cause of the fire has not been revealed to the public. The recent close call was a sober reminder of the very real risk present in every community. According to Red Cross Regional Communications Officer for the Alaska Region, Lisa Miller, as we get through the holiday season, it’s important to get into the mindset of fire safety, a state of mind often pushed aside until it’s too late.

“It’s so easy to think about it and not do it,” Miller said.

To better protect your home from a fire, some of the main points to cover are: having a two minute escape plan, practice your escape plan, check all smoke alarms monthly, being mindful of flammable materials in the kitchen while cooking, and properly handling alternative heating sources like wood stoves or space heaters. Especially in Alaska, alternative heating sources are the most common culprits for household fires. With space heaters, use the “three feet from the heat” rule. Keep the space heaters three feet away from any flammable materials. People are typically in the kitchen more often during the holidays. That is one of the prevailing risk factors. She advises cooks to do a walkthrough of the kitchen before they prepare meals. There are a number of flammable materials that can wind up near the stove, so it’s important to ensure the stove area is clear from anything that can catch fire. Miller also advised to anyone leaving the room while cooking to turn off the stove until they return.

Red Cross is known for many things; helping people after a fire is perhaps of their most recognized contributions. Whenever there is a fire, the responding fire department pages the Red Cross if those affected want further assistance. Miller said they are there to “fill the gap” after a disaster. The Red Cross aims short term assistance with financial and emotional support, information, and so on. They also connect the affected to other agencies to pursue long term assistance. For Miller, showing up on her first call with her iconic vest with her company’s logo was when reality sank in. She said that when people recognized that she was from Red Cross, they flocked to her immediately for help.

“It’s a symbol of hope to someone who just lost everything,” Miller said.

According to Miller, the Red Cross installed over 2,300 smoke alarms in Alaska during 2017. She said that anyone can call the Red Cross and make an appointment for a free home visit. Someone will come to your home and do a walk through, replacing and/or installing smoke alarms and making recommendations to the residents. Also in 2017, the Red Cross responded to 305 fires and helped 994 people in the state. 28 of those cases were in the Mat-Su with 97 people getting help. Miller said that they respond to a fire almost every day. The risk of losing your home to a fire is always there, so it seems logical to make fire safety a resolution for 2018. Miller suggests to when making the habit of checking smoke alarms each month, plan the examination on a notable day of the month like payday or when rent is due. She said that is one the best ways to ingrain the mindset: familiar association.

“Pay your rent, check your smoke alarm,” Miller said.