"Preventable" fires displace more than a dozen, Red Cross to start handing out smoke alarms
MILWAUKEE -- It was a tough holiday weekend for several families in Milwaukee. House fires have left more than a dozen people displaced. Volunteers with the American Red Cross are now working to help these families.
There were three separate house fires in the Milwaukee area this weekend.
Three people were displaced after a fire at a home near 73rd and Carmen on Sunday afternoon, December 27th.
House fire near 73rd and Carmen
Six people were displaced after a fire at a home near 16th and Grant early Sunday morning.
"And in these last two fires -- literally everything is gone. Their homes are not livable. They can't stay there, so they have to find another place to live," Patty Flowers with the American Red Cross said.
Flowers says the holidays are always busy for the American Red Cross.
American Red Cross
"A lot of times it's preventable," Flowers said.
The good news with Sunday's fires is that there were no serious injuries.
The bad news: The home near 16th and Grant was not equipped with working smoke detectors.
Fire at 16th & Grant, Milwaukee
On Friday night, December 25th, firefighters were on scene near 1st and Chambers. Fire officials say there were no working smoke detectors in the home.
Authorities say two people escaped from the home, suffering injuries. One may have jumped from a window. Both were taken to the hospital.
1st and Chambers fire scene
Fire and Red Cross officials say they encourage everyone to be sure there are working smoke detectors in your home. It's an easy way to protect yourself in the event of a fire.
"It's exceedingly frustrating for us because we will provide those smoke detectors to the residents of the Milwaukee," Deputy Chief Terry Lintonen with the Milwaukee Fire Department said.
If you are in need of a smoke detector, the city of Milwaukee will supply one for you free of charge, if you simply call the Smoke Detector Hotline at (414) 286-8980.
Red Cross volunteers will also begin handing out smoke detectors for those in need.
"We both have programs that we are working together on to get people as many smoke alarms as they need in their homes so these kinds of tragedies can be prevented," Flowers said.
Statewide, Red Cross officials hope to install 2,500 smoke detectors by June 2016.
Flowers believes they'll surpass that goal.
Meanwhile, the cause of these three holiday weekend fires in Milwaukee are under investigation.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the American Red Cross, or to make a donation.