SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
The Northern Nevada Chapter of the American Red Cross in collaboration with the Reno chapter of HOPE worldwide, the Reno Fire Department, and the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s Living With Fire program is launching a fire safety, prevention and preparedness program to Reno residents on Saturday January 14.
Volunteers will canvass neighborhoods surrounding the University of Nevada with the goal of reaching 600 Reno residents to discuss home fire safety and prevention as well as wildfire preparedness. The event will kick off with a welcome breakfast for canvassers at 10a.m. at Teglia’s Paradise Park Activity Center at 2745 Elementary Drive, Reno. Canvassers will be out in the community reaching out to residents on Saturday from 11a.m. – 3p.m.
This four year preparedness program is part of a national American Red Cross and HOPE worldwide joint effort to educate citizens about fire safety and prevention. The program is now running in more than 60 cities across the country, including the Northern Nevada cities of Elko, Winnemucca and Reno with a goal of reaching 1200 residents in Northern Nevada. In all locations volunteers will go door-to-door to educate households in vulnerable neighborhoods in order to help reduce the level of fire incidences. The goal of the program is to reach 381,000 households nationally.
Home fires are the most common disaster that the Red Cross responds to—the Northern Nevada Chapter of the American Red Cross responds to a home fire every 48 hours in Northern Nevada and has responded to 4 major wildfires in Northern Nevada in the past 6 months. During the November 2011 Caughlin Ranch fire Reno residents had little warning before having to evacuate from their homes in the middle of the night. Further, the Caughlin fire demonstrated how important it is for residents to recognize the threat wildfires pose to their families and residences and to take steps to prepare themselves. Following the three basic steps – Get a Kit, Make a Plan, Be Informed – will help residents prepare for evacuation. Additional lifesaving fire safety and prevention information is also available on the American Red Cross public website, www.redcross.org.
You can volunteer for this event by calling the American Red Cross office at 775-298-0131 or the Reno Chapter of Hope worldwide at 775-771-4480. Get involved in your community. Help your neighborhoods and tell them you care about their safety and welfare. The American Red Cross and its partners want everyone in the country to be safe. Please join us and let us know how you want to help.
The Northern Nevada chapter of the American Red Cross covers 87,000 square miles with a population of more than 670,000 people. Our chapter territory is from Tonopah north, with our main chapter in Reno and branch offices in Elko, Incline Village and Winnemucca.
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information about becoming a volunteer, health and safety classes, or making a donation, please call 775-856-1000 or visit our website at www.nevada.redcross.org.
