Home fires claim the lives of seven people per day and are responsible for more deaths annually than all other natural disasters in the U.S. combined, according to data from the National Fire Protection Association.
In recognition of National Fire Prevention Week, which began on Sunday, the Rhode Island and Connecticut regions of the American Red Cross have launched an awareness campaign to arm area residents with the knowledge necessary to prevent and escape a fire.
"The American Red Cross reminds everyone to take two simple steps — practice fire drills at home and test smoke alarms monthly — to stay safe from the nation’s most frequent and deadliest disaster," the agency said in a press release.