Red Cross Responds to Five Fires in Niagara County

Volunteers provided shelter, food, clothing & support to 16 people since Feb 1

BUFFALO, NY, February 14, 2013 – The American Red Cross, Serving Erie & Niagara Counties has responded to five separate fires in Niagara County since February 1. Volunteers from the Disaster Action Team (DAT) provided immediate emergency assistance to 16 people affected by these incidents.

In the early morning hours of Friday, February 1, the Red Cross was called to assist seven people displaced by a fire at an apartment complex on Lafayette Avenue in Niagara Falls. On Saturday, February 9, volunteers assisted a single mom and her child following a fire on Pound Street in Lockport. On Tuesday, DAT members responded to an apartment fire on State Street in Middleport, assisting two adults from separate units. Wednesday, two adults and one child received assistance after a fire on Niagara Street in Niagara Falls, and Thursday our volunteers responded to a call to assist two adults following a fire on Mapleton Road in Pendleton.

Red Cross assistance typically includes vouchers for temporary housing, food and clothing, as well as providing emotional support for those displaced by the fire. The affected families then meet with caseworkers in the days following their respective disasters to work out a longer-term recovery plan.

The Disaster Action Team is a group of specially trained volunteers who respond to the scene of a local disaster when called upon 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For more information on becoming Disaster Action Team member, please call (716) 878-2140 or visit www.redcross.org/ny/buffalo/volunteer.

The American Red Cross, Serving Erie & Niagara Counties spends an average of just over $1,000 when responding to a single house fire affecting a family of four.  To make a financial donation to help families such as these affected by house fires and other, please visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-REDCROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to charge a $10 donation to your cell phone bill.