VIA KTNV, Las Vegas — Denise Wong

Volunteers with the American Red Cross respond locally to a house fire every 18 hours.

They provide critical and immediate help to families, but that assistance takes money.

That’s why it launched its fundraising campaign on Thursday.

The Red Cross, along with the Professional Firefighters of Nevada, came together for this campaign.

The goal is to raise $350,000 to help families who fall victim to house fires this year.

It’s called the “Fire Hurts, Red Cross Helps” campaign. All the money raised stays right here in Southern Nevada.

According to the local Red Cross CEO, the Red Cross helped 1,500 people last year whose homes were lost or damaged by fire.

Shannon MacDowell was one of those helped when fire took over her apartment on Jan. 9.

She never thought she’d need the Red Cross’s assistance, “So many people with the American Red Cross helped donate. It was amazing to see everyone come together at such disasters like this, and so quickly too.”

The Red Cross plans to reach out to the community about this campaign with mailers and public service announcements.

You can expect to see those on TV pretty soon.

The Red Cross said it can’t help the community without the community’s help.