By Gordon Williams Fire Prevention Week, as proclaimed by the National Fire Protection Association, runs from October 4-10 this year. The dates for this annual event coincide with the anniversary of the Great Chicago fire that began on October 8, 1871. Image by Pexels from Pixabay Observe the event this year by taking steps to … Continue reading Take Steps Now to Fireproof Your Home
Tracy Sheehy’s Whirlwind Trip from One Fire to Another
By Gordon Williams Red Cross volunteer Tracy Sheehy had just returned home from a two-week deployment to the California wildfires when she was asked to help at the fires sweeping through Washington. Now she is mass care manager for Red Cross sheltering operations in Federal Way and Puyallup where she works with shelter manager Richard … Continue reading Tracy Sheehy’s Whirlwind Trip from One Fire to Another
How Janice Chapman Shelters Clients from Wildfires and COVID19
By Gordon Williams Janice Chapman Red Cross volunteer Janice Chapman was warned on the afternoon of Sunday, September 6 that she might be deployed to a wildfire in Eastern Washington. The call to deploy came early the next morning. “I was just finishing my coffee,” Janice said. Within hours, she was on her way to … Continue reading How Janice Chapman Shelters Clients from Wildfires and COVID19
Staying Safe in a Threatening Wildfire Season
July 25, 2018. Redding, California. Wildfires. Photo by Kris Warner/American Red Cross By Gordon Williams The images on television are horrific — pictures of wildfires burning out of control in California, Oregon and Eastern Washington. Since wildfire season is likely to last until the soaking rains of autumn, it’s essential you know how to stay … Continue reading Staying Safe in a Threatening Wildfire Season
AmeriCorps Story of Service: Jared Schneider
January 29th started as a slow day in the Everett American Red Cross office. Volunteers were trickling in and out, I didn’t have any disaster preparedness presentations to conduct, and it seemed like any another Pacific Northwest winter day. Some of us have the police scanner on in the background while we go about our … Continue reading AmeriCorps Story of Service: Jared Schneider
Auburn Spirit Shines after Devastating Apartment Fire
By Dale Steinke When a massive fire left 35 people without homes and leveled the historic Heritage Building in Auburn’s downtown in late December, the community rose up with uncommon generosity and coordination to help those who’d lost everything. “You never want to see disaster strike any community, but when it does, seeing the way … Continue reading Auburn Spirit Shines after Devastating Apartment Fire
What To Do Before the Fire Department Arrives
By Gordon Williams A simple mistake turned what might have been a routine New York City apartment house fire into a tragedy that took more than a dozen lives. Finding her kitchen in flames, a woman grabbed her children and fled her apartment – leaving the front door wide open. That let the flames spread … Continue reading What To Do Before the Fire Department Arrives
Spokane Area Community Partners Join Forces to Support Red Cross Wildfire Response
Wenatchee, WA, 10:30a.m., Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015 Thanks to the generosity of the Greater Spokane community, KXLY4 television, and the Spokane Federal Credit Union, a total of over $10,000 was raised for the Red Cross Washington Wildfires relief fund on Thursday, September 3, 2015, during an all-day telethon on KXLY4. Alyssa Ando, a Greater Inland … Continue reading Spokane Area Community Partners Join Forces to Support Red Cross Wildfire Response
Campaign Goal: Reducing Fire-Related Deaths, One Home at a Time
There were 351 residential fires last year in Seattle. That means that nearly every day, a home was damaged or lost. Even more frequently in Western Washington, Red Cross volunteers provided help to families who had lost their homes to devastating fires. The vast majority of these house fires were cooking related — a burner … Continue reading Campaign Goal: Reducing Fire-Related Deaths, One Home at a Time
Red Cross Helps Seattle Family Recover From Devastating Fire
On November 19, Verice Carter was at work in the University District when her neighbor called and said her house was on fire. Verice thought it was a joke. “I looked at my boss and said, ‘I guess my house is on fire,’” Verice said. “It was no big deal – I didn’t believe her.” … Continue reading Red Cross Helps Seattle Family Recover From Devastating Fire
American Red Cross NW Region 