A Red Cross service center opened today at the recreation center. The American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter is also mobilizing trained, licensed mental health professionals to respond to the emotional needs of the people traumatized by the fire. The family care and mental health component includes all support services that can help survivors deal with the trauma and activities that occur following a deadly fire. According to the National Fire Protection Association, someone dies in a fire every 18 minutes. Home fires occur every 1.2 minutes in the United States.
Home fires causing residents to leave the home occurs about every seven minutes.
The American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter responds to more than 700 disasters each year - almost two a day, the majority of which are house and apartment fires.