Red Cross urges Missourians have working smoke alarms after 20 fatal fires this winter

The American Red Cross is urging Missourians Monday to check they have a working smoke alarm and fire escape plan following a number of residential fires this winter across the state.

A news release from the American Red Cross said since July 1, 2019 the Red Cross has responded to 20 fatal fires in the Show-Me State. 15 of the 20 occurred between November 2019 and January 2020. They also reported ten of the 15 included children or a person over 60. They said a working smoke detector cuts the risk of dying in a fire by one-half.

“The Red Cross is typically called to more fatal fires in the winter, and unfortunately, that’s what we have seen the past three months in Missouri,” said Chris Harmon, Regional Disaster Officer for the American Red Cross of Missouri and Arkansas.

The State Fire Marshal Tim Bean asks everyone to be careful with space heaters and any supplemental heating devices. He said to never leave space heaters on while sleeping or when you leave a room and to keep them at least three feet away from anything flammable.

“Once a fire starts, residents might have just two minutes or less to escape before they’re overcome by smoke, so having working smoke alarms installed throughout the home provides early warning, which could mean the difference between life and death,” Bean said.

As part of the Home Fire Campaign, the American Red Cross in Missouri, in partnership with local fire departments, has installed more than 11, 200 alarms.