Fire Canvassing Event - Independence, MO

On February 21, 2015 an Independence, MO family lost their home, possessions and only child to a house fire. 5 year old Kai-Lynn was among three people injured after the fire broke out at the 10000 block of Winner Road at around noon on Saturday. Kai-Lynn was rushed to Children's Mercy Hospital with serious burns and heavy respiratory injuries. Kai-Lynn succumbed to her injuries on Monday February 23, 2015. 

Kai-Lynn

The family had just moved in to the house the day before. The fire has since been ruled accidental. The home did have smoke detectors but the Fire Department was unable to determine if they were working at the time of the fire. 

In response to this fire and 2 others in the Independence area recently in which no working smoke detectors were present in the house, Independence Fire and the Red Cross have partnered up to give out free smoke detectors and educate the residents in the immediate area about fire safety. 

On March 7, 2015 Independence Fire Station #3 (located closest to the fire on Winner Road) teamed up with the Red Cross, CERT and the local Emergency Management team to canvass the area near Winner Road and Ash Avenue. Teams of 2 or more walked the neighborhood talking to people about having working smoke detectors in the home, testing them monthly, changing the batteries when changing clocks for Daylight Savings Time as well as developing a fire escape plan with the family. Those residents who did not have working smoke detectors in their home were signed up to have one or more installed on March 21, 2015 when the Red Cross and Fire Department would partner up again to install smoke alarms for residents in need. Residents who were not home at the time of the canvassing were left a door hanger with information about how to call and schedule an appointment to have a smoke detector installed in their home.

While this canvassing event was in response to a fatality fire, residents don't have to wait for a disaster to happen to get a free smoke detector. Smoke alarms are given to Independence homeowners based on need. Homeowners can apply for one at the Independence Fire Station 1 at 950 N. Spring St. at the west entrance. For information about the smoke alarm program, call 816-325-7121.

“Every home should have at least one smoke alarm on every level of the home, preferred in every sleeping area and outside of every sleeping area,” Independence Fire Department said in a release. “Never take the battery out of your smoke alarm, except for replacement. Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke detector.”


Here are some pics from the canvassing event on March 7:

City of Independence Fire Station #3

Along with the Fire Department, Red Cross partnered with local CERT and Emergency Management Teams.

JoAnn Woody, Program Specialist with Red Cross helped organize the event and at the conclusion of the event took the opportunity to work on her photography skills. 

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, more than 4,000 Americans die and an estimated 20,000 are injured in fires annually; many of which could be prevented with working smoke detectors. I have been through a devastating fire myself and if that weren't a reminder enough to check my smoke detector regularly and to change the battery every 6 months, stories like the sad one above surely are a somber reminder. Be safe!

MLK Day of Service - Make it a day on, not a day off!

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and for many that means a day of service. 

What did you do today to make MLK Day a day on and not a day off?

For many who don't have today off, Saturday was our designated Day of Service. I participated by serving with the Red Cross. 

On Saturday January 17, 2015 the American Red Cross of Greater Kansas City volunteers worked with our partners at KCMO CERT and KCFD to visit homes in the Tri-Blenheim Neighborhood today, installing a total of 52 smoke alarms!! This neighborhood had been identified as a high risk area for home fires. In the ZIP code 64132, we've assisted an average of three families per month needing help because of home fires. Many thanks to those working with us and supporting us in the effort!!

January 5, 2015, ‪#‎RedCross‬ volunteers teamed up with KCMO firefighters and KCMO CERT members to distribute door hangers in the Tri-Blenheim neighborhood…. The hangers advised residents in the neighborhood to call us to make an appointment for us to come back to their home on January 17 to install a free smoke alarm.

Anyone in the greater metropolitan area needing a new smoke alarm to be installed may contact the Red Cross smoke alarm installation team at (816) 841-5242.

Here are pictures from Saturday's event:

Thanks to the Neighborhood Association President (Mr Kennedy) for the opportunity to make a difference, and Research Medical Center (Dr McArthur and staff) for the meeting space!

We hear stories every day of how Smoke Alarms REALLY DO Save Lives!!

Some homes had smoke detectors but as you can see they were out dated. Our goal was to replace those old smoke alarms with new 10 year smoke alarms.

Before we headed out in to the neighborhood we needed to meet up for some instructions and supplies: 

Coffee and Donuts were provided to volunteers prior to and upon return from the field.

We broke up in to teams and headed out to the homes that responded to the January 5th survey. Here's some pics of the team I went out with:

The group I tagged along with included one Red Cross Staff, one Red Cross volunteer (me! - not pictured) and 2 CERT volunteers.

Here are a few of the other teams:

Here are some of the archaic smoke alarms we ran across while out installing new ones: 

Overall, it was a great day! Saturday's ‪#‎FireSafety‬ event by the numbers:

10 American Red Cross of Greater Kansas City Volunteers + 5 Staff Members, with 5 KCMO CERT Volunteers and 5 KCFD Fire Fighters visited 24 homes and installed 52 Smoke Alarms. Great job everyone!!!