Red Cross of Alaska and the Anchorage Fire Department Announce

Mayor's Corner

2/25/2016

ANCHORAGE - The American Red Cross has teamed up with The Anchorage Fire Department (AFD) to promote fire safety within the home by meeting with homeowners to discuss ways to prevent structure (home) fires. Home fires are the most common disaster threat facing families in Anchorage today. Statistically, nearly all families experience a home fire sometime during their lifetime. The American Red Cross, a valued partner of the AFD, will have volunteers go door-to-door, in a targeted Anchorage neighborhood on Saturday, February 27th, to install smoke alarms, discuss fire safety and distribute fire safety information to local residents near AFD Station 6, located at 1301 Patterson Street. Additional areas will be selected throughout the year to repeat the effort.

Every year, the Red Cross responds to about 70,000 disasters across the country - and more than 90 percent are firerelated. Home fires often turn into tragedies because of inoperable (or non existent) smoke alarms. “Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in home fires by half,” said Shiloh Powell, Disaster Program Manager with the Red Cross of Alaska's South Central District. “As a part of our work to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies, the Red Cross and its partners are educating the community and providing vital information on fire safety and the importance of maintaining working smoke alarms. We are thrilled to have the support of The Anchorage Fire Department to help us carry out this life-saving service.”

“The Anchorage Fire Department depends on the American Red Cross to help families who are in crisis following a home fire that may have consumed every possession they own” said Denis LeBlanc, AFD Fire Chief. “Without the Red Cross, our job would be much more difficult from the personal impact that home fires can have on families”, he added. “The Red Cross is there to lend a hand every time we need them” he said. It fits well within the Fire Department’s mission “to serve our community before, during and after an emergency”.

Reducing deaths and injuries from home fires goes beyond the means of any one organization. It is a national problem that needs a collaborative solution. We have an opportunity to make a change in our community in the partnership between the American Red Cross and Anchorage Fire Department. “This is a great partnership and the more we make our residents aware of fire prevention, the more we build a safer Anchorage,” said Ethan Berkowitz, Mayor of Anchorage, Alaska.

East Anchorage residents who are interested in signing up to participate in the program can apply via the on-line link here: https://americanredcross.wufoo.com/forms/alaska-home-fire-installation-form/

For more information, contact Beth Bennett with the Municipality of Anchorage at (907) 646-5410.

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