Fires

For more than 20 hours, people fleeing wildfire in Northwest Territories drove south to get to safety and plan their next steps. Michele Michetti, 29, remembers seeing flames, but it’s the people that stick out the most in her memories on the drive from Yellowknife. 

Wildfires are burning in Halifax region and Shelburne County Nova Scotia, forcing people to evacuate from their homes. The Canadian Red Cross is on the ground in support of the provincial and municipal governments. We’re working together with community organizations to provide help to those who have been impacted. 

When looking at a map of Northern Saskatchewan, you’ll notice the roads are few and far between. It’s easy to wonder, how do people get help promptly during times of need? The answer is through the dedicated volunteers locally placed throughout the community who spring into action when duty calls.

Fires are one of the most common emergencies experienced by Canadians in their home. Home fires can happen anywhere and any time, but most commonly occur between December and March. There’s a lot you can do to prevent it from happening, however. Here are some steps to follow before returning home after a house fire.

Many of us have found ourselves baking and cooking more. With all this increased kitchen action, there’s also bound to be accidents. Kitchen fires are the leading cause of home fires in Canada. Take a look at some common habits that may lead to a kitchen fire.

When lightning strikes, disaster can follow in mere minutes. Elizabeth, her husband, four children and family dog escaped a sudden home fire, and were grateful for the support of the Red Cross Personal Disaster Assistance Team in Prince Albert, SK. 

Since the start of this year’s wildfires season in British Columbia in mid-June, more than 1,600 wildfires were recorded in the province, forcing thousands of people to evacuate their homes throughout the province. The Canadian Red Cross sent close to 200 employees and volunteers from across the country to help support individuals, families and communities affected by the wildfires.

Sharla Kojima is a safety and wellbeing responder on deployment with the Canadian Red Cross in Manitoba working with First Nation members evacuated to Winnipeg because of air quality concerns due to wildfires. Her help has been very appreciated by those impacted, as shown in this comment card.