Without significant warning, a vicious wildfire quickly destroyed hundreds of homes in just hours in Colorado. The American Red Cross is responding there, where tens of thousands of people have had to leave their neighborhoods. Spurred by strong winds, the fire spread very quickly. Thousands are without power and gas, leaving them without heat in single-digit temperatures and facing a winter storm warning.
Red Cross Response
Red Cross disaster workers, some of whom have had to evacuate their own homes, are helping evacuees find a safe place to stay and emotional support during this challenging time. The Red Cross is working with state and local officials to determine what other help is needed.
Several Red Cross and community shelters are open, including one for people with large animals. A Red Cross site will also be used for the distribution of space heaters due to the extremely cold weather. More Red Cross workers and relief supplies are being deployed and the teams are also working to distribute medical-style cots for nursing home residents who had to evacuate.
Find a shelter
Those in the path of wildfires must listen to the advice of local authorities and evacuate immediately if asked
Those in the path of wildfires must listen to the advice of local authorities and evacuate immediately if asked to do so. The Red Cross welcomes everyone into their shelters. Anyone in the affected areas that needs a safe place to stay should visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767), or download the free Red Cross Emergency App for shelter locations.
To help keep everyone safe, the authorities use COVID safety precautions including masks, health screenings, enhanced cleaning procedures, and encouraging social distancing regardless of vaccine status. Wear a mask and maintain social distancing to ensure that the evacuation is as safe as possible. If people are evacuating with pets, please check with the Humane Society of Boulder Valley for details on locations accepting and supporting companion pets during this time.
COVID-19 precautions and safety
COVID-19 has not changed the Red Cross mission. They are providing the same types of support they always have. Ensuring people have a safe place to stay during a disaster is a critical part of the Red Cross mission, but how it is supported by sheltering efforts may be different in each community, depending on local emergency plans and the scale of the disaster.
People can help those affected by disasters by making a gift to Red Cross Disaster Relief
To help keep the workforce and the people it serves safe, the authorities are requiring face masks regardless of vaccination status. In addition, they are also using health screenings, enhanced cleaning procedures, and encouraging social distancing as much as possible.
People can help those affected by disasters like fires and countless other crises by making a gift to Red Cross Disaster Relief. The gift is a commitment to helping people in need, and every single donation matters. The gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small.
Wildfire safety
A wildfire can spread very quickly, leaving little time to get to safety. Be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice and obey all evacuation orders from officials.
- Back the car into the garage or park it outside, facing the direction of the evacuation route.
- Keep the pets in one room, so people can find them if they need to evacuate quickly.
- Limit exposure to smoke and dust. Keep indoor air clean by closing windows and doors to prevent outside smoke from getting in.
- Don’t use anything that burns, such as candles, fireplaces, and gas stoves.
If people are trapped outdoors, crouch in a pond, river, or pool. If there is nobody of water, look for shelter in a cleared area or among a bed of rocks. Lie flat, face-down, and cover the body with soil. Breathe the air close to the ground to avoid scorching the lungs or inhaling smoke.
Don’t return home until officials say it’s safe to do so.
- Inspect the roof immediately and extinguish any sparks or embers. Wildfires may have left embers that could reignite.
- Check the home for embers that could cause fires. Look for signs of a fire including smoke or sparks.
- Avoid damaged or downed power lines, poles, and wires.
- Keep a close eye on the animals. Hidden embers and hot spots could burn them.
- Wet down debris to minimize breathing in dust particles.
- Wear work gloves and shoes with heavy soles.
- Throw out any food that has been exposed to heat, smoke, or soot.
Download the Red Cross Emergency App for real-time alerts, open Red Cross shelter locations, and expert advice on wildfires. The Emergency app includes an “I’m Safe” feature that helps people check on loved ones. Search “American Red Cross” in app stores or go to redcross.org/apps.
Heat the home safely
If using a space heater, look for a model that shuts off automatically if the heater falls over
If using a space heater, look for a model that shuts off automatically if the heater falls over. Place the heater on a level, hard and nonflammable surface in the home. Keep children and pets away from space heaters.
- Keep all potential sources of fuel like paper, clothing, bedding, curtains, or rugs at least three feet away from space heaters, stoves, or fireplaces.
- Portable heaters and fireplaces should never be left unattended. Turn off space heaters and make sure any embers in the fireplace are extinguished before going to bed or leaving home.
Generator safety
Never use a generator, grill, camp stove, or other gasoline, propane, natural gas, or charcoal-burning device inside a home, garage, basement, or another partially enclosed area. Keep this equipment outside and away from doors, windows, and vents, which could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.
- If people are using a generator, keep it dry and don’t use it in wet conditions. Operate the generator on a dry surface under an open canopy-like structure, such as under a tarp held up by poles. Don’t touch a generator with wet hands.
- Turn the generator off and let it cool down before refueling. Gasoline spilled on hot engine parts could catch fire. Plug appliances directly into the generator. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet.
