On Tuesday, March 7, the Red Cross of Southern Nevada and the Professional Fire Fighters of Nevada (PFFN) will launch the annual Fire Hurts…Red Cross Helps Campaign. The launch will take place at the Henderson Fire Training Center (401 Parkson Rd. Henderson, NV) at 10:30am. Guest speaker, Angelo Pafumi, will tell his story of how the Red Cross helped him and his family recover after a home fire.

“Experiencing something as traumatic as a home fire is an incredible ordeal. Some people are left feeling vulnerable and alone.  Our volunteers are there to help these people put the disaster behind them so they can start the recovery process,” says Scott Emerson, Executive Director of the American Red Cross of Southern Nevada. “The donations made to this campaign give our volunteers the resources they need to help so many people recover after a home fire.”

The Red Cross helps a family after a disaster in Southern Nevada, on average, every 20 hours. Most of the time, it is a home fire.  Volunteers are on-call 24 hours a day, ready to respond to these home-fires. They provide financial assistance, emotional support, and the first steps toward recovery when the families need it most.

Angelo Aragon, president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Nevada said, “As first responders it is disheartening when we finish our job, and families are left in the wake of disaster. I am incredibly thankful to the Fire Hurts program for all they do to step in and help our community members in their time of need, and I am honored to support their efforts.”

People can make a donation to the Fire Hurts…Red Cross Helps campaign by visiting http://www.redcross.org/southernnevada and clicking on the Fire Hurts…Red Cross Helps logo on the right side of the page.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.