UPDATE: Since this release was issued Monday morning, volunteers Jeanie Shiffer and Jason Carmen helped six people after a fire on 10th St in Jamestown, and Jessica and Suzanne are on the way to a fire on Saltvale Road in Wyoming to help 3 adults and a child. Eight fires, 56 people since Saturday. Thank you, volunteers!!
Volunteers
from the American Red Cross responded to six separate fires in Western New
York and Greater Rochester, providing immediate emergency assistance for up to
47 people. Red Cross assistance typically includes vouchers for temporary
housing, food and clothing as needed, and Disaster Mental Health volunteers are
available to help with the emotional aspect of disaster. Those affected will
meet with caseworkers in the coming days to work on a longer-term recovery
plan.
Greater
Rochester Chapter volunteers Doug Scarson and Malachi Rundgren responded to the
scene of a fire on East Wautoma Beach Road Hilton, providing food and clothing
for one person. Early Monday morning, Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteers
Greg Langen and Lucille Frisicano were called to a fire on North Goodman Street
in Rochester, providing temporary housing, food and clothing for one person,
and food and clothing for another family of five.
Western
New York Chapter volunteers Phil Baker and Deborah Miller first responded to a
fire in Ellington, Chautauqua County Friday night, providing three adults with
vouchers for food and clothing. Early Saturday morning, DAT volunteers Dominic
DiGioralmo and Bob Shook responded to an apartment fire in Cuba, Allegany
County, where they opened four cases, providing immediate emergency assistance
for six people. Also Saturday, volunteers Diane Sargent, Metrice Jenkins and
Luona Yang helped five adults and two children after a fire on Fillmore Avenue
in Buffalo. Early Monday morning, Sargent and fellow volunteers George Ortiz
and Gwen Gonzalez responded to the scene of a fire on 19th Street in
Niagara Falls, providing housing, food and clothing for seven people from two
families. A third family of 17 is expected to seek assistance later today.
The American Red Cross has
launched an initiative to reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by
home fires by 25 percent over the next five years. The Red Cross is asking
every household in America to take two simple steps: check their existing smoke
alarms and practice fire drills at home. As part of the Home Fire Preparedness Campaign, the Red Cross is joining with fire departments and
community groups nationwide to install free smoke detectors in homes that need
them. For more information, please contact Individual and Community
Preparedness Specialist Veronica Chiesi Brown at 585-241-4405 or veronica.chiesibrown@redcross.org.
To support home
fire survivors across the country, the American Red Cross has launched a new
social media campaign called #GiveWhatFireTakes. Donors nationwide have the opportunity to
support Red Cross relief efforts. For every amount
raised, the Red Cross is able to provide not only recovery items for home fire
survivors, but also critical fire safety training and smoke alarm installations
to help prevent deaths and injuries. Visit our Crowdwise campaign page, make a direct donation on redcross.org and share what moved you to join
the campaign on social media with #GiveWhatFireTakes.
