Number of fires creates need for Red Cross volunteers
Nick Miraglia says his group has been working around the clock and has already helped over 130 people from over 50 households so far.
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Workers at a local American Red Cross chapter say they're in need of some relief themselves.
Nick Miraglia is a disaster program manager for the Metro New York North chapter.
Miraglia says his group has been working around the clock and has already helped over 130 people from over 50 households so far.
"That's just from the new year. So, between Jan. 1 and Feb. 3, that's 24 fires. That's almost a fire every day," Miraglia says.
Miraglia's coworker, Rebecca Tirado, says a large concentration of the fires they've responded to have been in the Hudson Valley.
"Our active spots have been Westchester, mostly, but we also have fires in Rockland County," Tirado says.
To keep up with demand, the chapter is looking for more volunteers to get involved.
The chapter serves communities in Westchester, Rockland, Greenwich and the U.S. Military Academy.
"We always need volunteers. The rate of mainly fires here is very high for various reasons," Miraglia says.
Tirado says some of those reasons may be tied to the season.
"Because of the cold temperatures, bursting pipes, people using extension cords, space heaters, things catching fire more quickly because of that," Tirado says.
While Miraglia says there's no significant risk associated with volunteering, there is a different kind of impact involved.
"It's your commitment to the Red Cross and your community. [It's] absolutely worth it," Miraglia says.
To learn how you can get involved with the chapter, click here.
