Red Cross, Baltimore Fire Launch Home Fire Safety Push
A weekly social media video series aims to reduce holiday-season home fires in Baltimore and Central Maryland.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Safety
Live Poll
Have you checked your smoke alarm batteries before the holiday season?
The Red Cross of Central Maryland and the Baltimore City Fire Department have launched a home fire safety campaign, sharing one video per week throughout November. The effort centers on a four-video social media series covering common causes of home fires.
Why it matters
Cooking and home heating equipment are among the leading causes of home fires, and fires spike as temperatures drop and people cook more and decorate for the holidays. Home fires are the most frequent emergency the Red Cross disaster response team is called to in Baltimore.
The Red Cross helped one in five people after home fires during last year's holiday months, responding to close to 100 home fires in November and December across Central Maryland. It remains unknown whether the campaign will change those totals, as no outcome measures have been announced.
The players
Red Cross of Central Maryland
The regional chapter of the American Red Cross provides disaster response and free emergency assistance to residents of Central Maryland.
Baltimore City Fire Department
The municipal fire agency serving Baltimore City responds to fires and emergencies and co-leads public fire-prevention education with the Red Cross.
The details
The campaign's safety messaging covers replacing smoke alarm batteries, keeping space heaters away from flammable materials, and avoiding overloaded extension cords. Free Red Cross disaster assistance, which hundreds of local residents received last year, is funded by donations.
Timeline
Last November and December: Red Cross assisted hundreds of residents after close to 100 home fires.
November 2026: One safety video per week is shared by the Red Cross and fire department.
November 2, 2026: The campaign launched as the holiday season approaches.
Seasonal Patterns
Home fire responses cluster in the November and December holiday window, consistent with the seasonal pattern the Red Cross documented in its Central Maryland response figures from last year. This prevention push extends that practice ahead of the peak period rather than after it.
Replace smoke alarm batteries, keep space heaters at least three feet from flammable materials, and avoid overloading extension cords during the holiday season. Follow the weekly Red Cross and Baltimore fire department videos for further home fire safety guidance.
The takeaway
Simple habits like checking smoke alarm batteries and keeping heaters clear of flammable items can prevent the kinds of home fires that most often prompt emergency calls during the holidays.
Further reading
For more on home and holiday fire risks, explore Safety coverage for Baltimore.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WBFF.
Live Poll
Have you checked your smoke alarm batteries before the holiday season?
