LAKELAND, FL (July 2, 2008 ) — On Wednesday afternoon, the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter assisted a family of four in Lakeland whose home was damaged by fire that day.
At 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 2, volunteers with the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter Disaster Action Team received word about a family displaced when fire burned a home on Fletcher Avenue in Lakeland. Volunteers arrived on the scene within an hour and provided the family — three adults and a child — with temporary shelter, comfort kits (personal hygiene kits), emergency assistance for groceries and clothing, odor-control concentrated cleaner to help salvage items from the home, a Red Cross disaster clean-up kit, a Ride for the Red T-shirt, and a teddy bear stuffed toy to help comfort the child.
This fire is the first one in Polk County for the new service year, which began on July 1. Over the previous 12 months, the local Red Cross assisted 242 families affected by local disasters in Polk and Highlands Counties: Roughly two families every three days, or an increase of more than 100 families over the previous service year. Almost all families were displaced by house fires. Whenever called, considerate and compassionate volunteers respond to help those in need.
Home fires are the most common disaster that Red Cross volunteers witness. Volunteers urge families to follow fire prevention tips and to make and practice fire escape plans to ensure all family members escape a fire safely. Information on preventing fire and planning for home fires is available at http://www.redcross.org/services/prepare/0,1082,0_242_,00.html.
