While for many the start of the New Year can move at a relatively slow, post-holiday pace, Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteers had an extremely busy and impactful start to 2026, responding to 17 home fires and assisting 57 individuals throughout the Western New York region in just the first five days of the new year. Those responses included two fires in multi-unit dwellings in the greater Rochester area, which displaced a total of 39 people.
DAT team volunteers respond to home fires to provide comfort and aid to victims, including financial assistance for emergency housing, food, and clothing needs, as well as referrals for additional case services as needed. In the last six months of 2025, Red Cross DAT volunteers responded to 373 home fires in the 27-county WNY Region, including a high of 76 in December.
“We focus heavily on fire prevention and safety education in an effort to keep families safe from home fires,” said Nick Bond, CEO of the American Red Cross of Western New York. “In our last fiscal year, we installed nearly 2,500 free smoke alarms in our region. When a fire does occur, our priority is to help those impacted cope with the situation and get them on the path to recovery as quickly and efficiently as possible. I could not be prouder of our dedicated volunteers who often leave the comfort of their home in the middle of the night to help individuals and families who are experiencing some of the most difficult moments of their lives.”
The Red Cross of Western New York continues to seek additional volunteers to join its Disaster Action Team to help neighbors and experience fulfillment and growth. It is the dedicated Red Cross DAT volunteers who are among the first to offer comfort, hope, and assistance in the case of a home fire, flood, or other disaster.
Volunteers receive free training to support their success and fulfillment in their roles. For more information, visit redcross.org/volunteer or email RecruitWNY@redcross.org.
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The Red Cross was called to assist the 14 people displaced by this January 3 fire on Pine Hill Road in Parma. Photo from @SpencerportFD on X.
