Tulsa Red Cross Busy As Cold Months See Spike In Residential Fires

Representatives with the Red Cross say they are seeing more families displaced this time of year because of fires.

A unit at the Western Pines apartments was charred late Saturday, everything inside destroyed. Now firefighters say several adults and four children are without a home.

The fire began around 10:30 p.m.

Rick Harvey with the Red Cross says they help a lot of families during the winter months.

This weekend alone, the Tulsa Fire Department responded to four residence fires within 48 hours, and while the cause of each fire is still under investigation, firefighters said more fires tend to happen when the temperatures drop.

“People are just turning on their heaters,” TFD District Fire Chief Chuck French said. “They're using space heaters and stuff. Just be really cautious out there, check your floor furnaces, get that maintenance, take care of and just really watch that stuff. Always this initial part of the year when we get this cold streak is when we seem to have the highest fire spikes."

And it's keeping the Red Cross busy.

“In addition to this fire, the American Red Cross responded to three additional in the Tulsa area,” Harvey said.

The Red Cross gives emergency housing, food, clothes, and anything else fire victims  may need to get them by until they can make long-term plans.

Right now volunteers also are busy helping flood victims and winter storm victims in the state.

“We always need volunteers, especially right now,” Harvey said. “We really, really need volunteers. If we have someone that wants to volunteer we can find something for them that can meet their skill sets."

And it's a job that never ends. But Harvey says, as long as families need them, they'll be there.

1/3/2016 Related Story: Twelve People Lose Homes In Tulsa Apartment Fire