NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The Tennessee Region of the American Red Cross is hopeful people will brush up on their fire safety during the stay-at-home order after eight people died in residential fires in June.
The fires happened in Davidson, Wilson, Pickett, Gibson, Hamilton, Dyer, and Shelby counties.
In Lebanon, a 52-year-old woman was killed in a cooking fire. In South Nashville, a 60-year-old woman was killed in an overnight house fire.
"We occasionally see fatalities once or twice a month, but eight is definitely high and it was spread out across counties and not just in a concentrated area," said Crystal Fisher of The Red Cross. "It let us know this is definitely an issue we need to remind the community about."
Causes of deadly residential fires vary, but commonly they can be prevented. The Red Cross listed excess lint in the dryer, a candle left burning, smoking in the house, a stove left unattended and unplugged smoke detectors to be common reasons.
"Because these disasters can happen anytime, anywhere, please help stay safe by testing your smoke alarms each month and practicing your home fire escape plan until everyone in your household can escape in two minutes or less," said Joel Sullivan of The Red Cross.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, The Red Cross suggests revisiting your exit plan in the case of a fire to lessen your risk of being seriously injured or killed.
"We're believing that because more people are at home we're seeing an increase," said Crystal Fisher of the Red Cross. "Also we're just wanting to remind people how important home fire prevention is."
Additionally, the Red Cross is offering online fire safety education for adults as well as education materials for children.
"It doesn't work if only one person in the family is prepared," Fisher said.
For more, download the free Red Cross Emergency App, (search “American Red Cross” in app stores.
