MERIDIAN —     Last year, Key Chapter of the American Red Cross responded to 116 single family fires in its seven-county service area – 48 of which were in Lauderdale County.

    "That's fires with total or major destruction," said Susan Wehr, executive director of the Key Chapter.

    "Home fires are this country's greatest disaster threat, but they are also the most preventable."

    To help get the word out about the need for fire safety, Citizens National Bank has partnered with the ARC affiliate.

    During February and March, Citizen's will host several fire safety awareness events to call attention to the great need for fire prevention in our area. The first of these events was held Monday at the bank's Downtown Banking Centre.

    According to the National Fire Protection Association, 2,755 people die in house fires each year. For more than a decade, Mississippi has led among states in fire-related deaths.

    Wehr, who has held her current Red Cross post for just four months after having worked in Wisconsin, said she was shocked by the number of house fires in one year in Key Chapter's service area.

    "In the service area where I previously worked – which serves three counties with more than 230,000 residents (about the same number for Key Chapter) – Red Cross only responded to 22 fires," she said.

    Wehr attributes the difference to smoke detectors.

    "Smoke alarms save lives," she said. "In Wisconsin, smoke alarms are the law. And there are penalties if you don't have them in homes."

    In April 2010, the state expanded the mandate to include carbon monoxide detectors.

    "I want the city of Meridian to have smoke alarms required in homes," Wehr said.

    The American Red Cross estimates that 890 lives could be saved each year if all homes had working smoke alarms.

    “We recommend that you install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside each bedroom, and outside every sleeping area,” she said. “You should also test each of your smoke alarms once per month and replace batteries in them at least once a year,” she added.

    As part of several upcoming fire safety awareness days at the bank, the Meridian Fire Department will be on hand to distribute free smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.

    "House fires are not selective, they hit any socioeconomic background," said Ginger Hand, fire prevention specialist for the Meridian Fire Department.

    "You can't do anything to stop hurricanes and earthquakes from coming, but you can prevent fires," Hand said.

    The American Red Cross urges families to practice their escape routes at least twice per year, and have a designated meeting place where your family members agree to meet if they have to escape from a house fire. You should also consider having one or more working fire extinguishers in your home.

    Special care should also be taken while in the kitchen, since cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires. “Most of these cooking related fires occur when the kitchen is left unattended,” Wehr said

    “By simply taking a few precautions, and safeguarding your home, you can greatly reduce the risk of a fire related tragedy affecting your home,” Wehr said.

    “We know people's lives are busy, and fire safety is not always at the forefront of their minds.” Von Burt, president of Citizens National Bank's Meridian Region said.

    “Our bank wants to help in any way we can to help the people in our community to be prepared,” he said.

    During February and March, Citizens will donate radio airtime to the American Red Cross in the form of 60-second commercials. The bank also has a section of their Web site devoted to the American Red Cross. Visit www.yourcnb.com/redcross.

    “We salute the work of the American Red Cross because we know they put caring into action,” Burt said. "They put their arms around those families who fall victims to fires and other disasters in the area and provide help when it's needed most.”