ST. GEORGE — The recent fire on 2700 East and 2650 East damaged six buildings and displaced families, prompting the American Red Cross Utah Disaster Action Team staff and volunteers to offer on-the-ground assistance to the community.
After the fire, volunteers helped 18 individuals find a safe place to stay or the resources required to meet their immediate needs, executive director of the American Red Cross Central and Southern Utah chapter Benjamin Donner said.
“Night, day, 24/7, we are on call to be able to respond to anyone that has gone through a house fire, even if that’s just to give them advice,” Donner said.
Red Cross can help those affected by house fires by ensuring they have access to food, clothing, necessities and shelter, which Donner said are made available through donors’ generosity.
Some of the families affected by the April 7 fire had pets. Donner said that while the Red Cross’s primary focus is to alleviate human suffering, pet owners can opt to secure pet-friendly lodging after a house fire. Additionally, the Red Cross offers a slew of apps containing critical information and support, including a pet first aid app that can be used as a reference. Pet owners can also register for the organization’s Cat and Dog First Aid online training.
The Red Cross’ Emergency app will notify users of 35 separate severe weather and emergency events and the Earthquake app contains information on preparing for and recovering from earthquakes and tsunamis. Both apps give users the ability to check on loved ones and let others know they are safe.
Sound the Alarm
During the Sound the Alarm campaign, the American Red Cross will install free smoke alarms in homes. The campaign gives individuals the tools they need to be safe in a house fire and will be the organization’s national focus for May, Donner said.
“But in reality, it’s something that is critical to our community year-round, anytime,” he said. “We are more than happy to do that across the board.”
The Red Cross is specifically targeting those in vulnerable communities, but its overall mission is to ensure every home has an active, working fire alarm installed, Donner said. Not having a smoke alarm is a major cause of fire-related injuries and fatalities.
“They don’t get out in time,” he said, adding that residents have an average of two minutes to leave their homes safely.
Individuals can request the Red Cross install up to three 10-year alarms in their homes, which Donner said they can offer because of donor support.
He said that residents should test their alarms every six months to ensure they are in working order.
During their visit, a Red Cross volunteer will talk with the family about their specific needs and help them plan ahead, Donner said. Volunteers will work with the family to consider critical safety factors such as where the best exit points in the home are, whether they have a fire kit and if there are obstacles that would prevent them from exiting the house. Additionally, volunteers will leave behind a whiteboard for residents to sketch out the layout of their homes.
Those interested in participating in the program can call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit the Sound the Alarm website.
American Red Cross volunteers
Donner said volunteers do 90% of the work for the Red Cross, adding that working as a volunteer is “life-changing.”
“That individual is truly making a difference in the life of somebody else with the American Red Cross because that is our full mission – to alleviate human suffering,” he said.
Southern Utahns can support the Red Cross by donating funds or volunteering, Donner said, adding that the pandemic hit their volunteer force hard. Additionally, the Red Cross will train volunteers for their roles.
Volunteer opportunities include donating blood or hosting blood drives, joining the disaster action team and promoting disaster preparedness, according to the Red Cross’s website, where those interested in volunteering can find more information.
“I feel extremely fortunate that I get to do this every single day,” Donner said. “But it’s those that I get to work with that make all the difference.”
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