We all want to help safeguard our homes against disasters.  But most Americans are unaware that the most common disaster is also highly preventable.  It doesn't matter if you live on the coast or the prairie, the mountains or a flood plain, in the city or on a farm, a home fire can happen anywhere to anyone, and the Oregon Pacific Chapter of the American Red Cross would like to help you learn how to tame the flame.

The toll of home fires on American families and communities is staggering.  According to the U.S. Fire Administration, each year nearly 400,000 families are affected by home fires.  A home fire is approximately reported every 80 seconds, and someone dies from a home fire every 204 minutes.  Young children are the most at risk as fire is the leading cause of unintentional death for those under the age of five.  Last year the Oregon Pacific Chapter responded to 221 home fires in Benton, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Lane, Lincoln and Linn counties.  This is a 67% increase since 2000.

Many people don't realize that when the local fire department responds to a home fire, the Red Cross also answers the call.  Our Red Cross volunteers are on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to help meet the emergency needs of those affected by fire - shelter, food, basic necessities and counseling.

While the American Red Cross will always be there to provide relief from a disaster, we are also in communities every day ready to help you prevent and prepare for fires in your own home.  The Red Cross recommends you take these three initial steps to reduce you risk from home fires:

1. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and maintain them as recommended.

2. Create a family escape plan so that you and your family can get to safety in the event of a fire.

3. Learn how to help prevent home fires in your home by following the links below.

            Fire Safety

            Escape Planning

            Smoke Alarms

            Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

            Children and Fires

            Home Heating Fires

            Cooking Fires

            Candle Safety

            Thanksgiving Fire Safety

            Holiday Fire Safety

For more information on how you can be prepared for disasters and emergencies, visit our            Be Prepared Page and our Safety Facts and Tips Page.

Fire Safety Week: Smoke Alarms Protect Families

Working smoke detectors save thousands of lives every day across the country!  In honor of Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 4-10), the Oregon Pacific Chapter of the American Red Cross teamed up with the Eugene Fire Department, Bi-Mart, and the University of Oregon Greek Life to provide home fire preparedness and prevention information and supplies to residents of the Trainsong Neighborhood on Sunday, Oct. 4th. Red Cross staff and volunteers, the Eugene Fire Department, and over 75 U of O students canvassed door-to-door in the neighborhood.  The teams provided Fire Safety information, urged residents to check their smoke detectors, handed out more than 2 dozen 10-year smoke detector batteries donated by Bi-Mart, and the Eugene Fire Department installed several smoke detectors donated by Bi-Mart. Thank you to all of the individuals and groups that participated in this event!  Also, thank you to    Bi-Mart for their very generous donation of batteries and smoke detectors.  Home Fire Prevention Information