RED CROSS KICKS OFF FIRE PREVENTION WEEK

Focus is on HAWS High-Rise Apartments

WINSTON-SALEM, October 1, 2009 – After the devastating Alder’s Point Apartment Complex fire in July of this year, the American Red Cross would like to focus on providing fire safety information to the high-rise apartments managed by the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem. The kick-off will start at Healy Towers and volunteers will follow up with Crystal Towers and Sunrise Towers.

WHAT: Red Cross volunteers will distribute fire safety and prevention literature to the residents of the high-rise apartment buildings. The Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle will be at the kick-off serving drinks and snacks that morning. The fire department will have a truck out at Healy Towers also for residents to view and ask questions. Residents will meet downstairs for a presentation and then talk with Red Cross volunteers about fire safety, prevention and rental insurance. The Red Cross disaster dog mascot will also be on hand.

WHO: The Northwest North Carolina Chapter of the American Red Cross
Winston-Salem Fire Department
Housing Authority of Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem Emergency Management

WHY:
• Every 22 seconds, a fire department responds to a fire somewhere in the nation.
• Almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke
alarms or no working smoke alarms.
• On average, one home candle fire was reported every 34 minutes.
• The leading factors in space heater fire are the heater being too close to combustibles and the equipment left unattended.
Source: One-Stop Data Shop, Fire Analysis and Research Division, National Fire Protection Association, www.nfpa.org, 2008.

WHEN: Monday, October 5, 2009
10:00 a.m. EST

WHERE: Healy Towers
3450 Healy Drive
Winston-Salem, NC 27103
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