Acadiana Red Cross Helping Multiple Local Families After Fires

The American Red Cross is assisting 32 people, including 17 children, after responding last week to seven home fires. On Sunday, Jan. 12, volunteers responded to another house fire, helping a Crowley family of four.

Acadiana Chapter Of The American Red Cross Helping Mulitple Families After Fires

Between January 5 and January 10, the Acadiana Chapter of the American Red Cross has been working to help several families after seven fire have either damaged or destroyed their homes.

Regional Preparedness Manager Tony Credeur says there have been seven fires affecting 32 people:

January 5: Lebesque Road, Lafayette, 2 adults.
January 6: Neco Town, New Iberia, 2 adults, 1 child.
January 7: Messena Street, Abbeville, 2 adults.
Janary 9: Nottingham Circle, Lafayette, 2 adults, 7 children.
January 9: Louis Drive, Abbeville, 2 adults, 4 children.
January 9: Chess Broussard Road, Breaux Bridge, 2 adults, 5 children.
January 10: Madeline Avenue, Lafayette, 3 adults.

Credeur says,

“Last year the Acadiana Area Chapter helped more than 110 families after home fires in Acadiana. “We’re responding to families facing fires like these two to three times each week on average.”

He says they are coordinating aid based on the needs of each family. They are assisting in various ways including:

Shelter
Food
Clothing
Shoes
Health services
Emotional support
Referrals to community partners

Credeur says Red Cross of Acadiana volunteers who respond to the fire's are trained through their Disaster Action Team to respond day or night when disasters happen.

Credeur also offers some advice on hwo to prevent a fire in your home and to protec your family is a fire starts:

Have working smoke alarms as they cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
Place smoke alarms on every level of your home, including bedrooms.
Test smoke alarms once a month and replace batteries at least once a year.
Have a plan in place can help you escape, including at least two ways to escape from every room of your home and a meeting spot at a safe distance from your home.
Discuss the plan with everyone in the household and practice it at least twice a year.

If you would like to help a local family financially by making a donation to the Acadiana Chapter of the Red Cross you can:

Click on their website www.redcross.org/acadiana
Call (337) 234-7371
Text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.