Red Cross helps family after home fire in Williston

WILLISTON, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - Volunteers with the American Red Cross are assisting a family whose home on Roy Street in Williston was damaged by a fire on Friday afternoon.

The Red Cross is helping 2 people by providing financial assistance for immediate needs such as food, clothing and shelter, along with other resources.

The Red Cross says they respond to an average of six home fires every day in South Carolina. In the colder months, there is a 30% increase in home fires.

“Home fires are a real threat to communities across South Carolina year-round, especially during the winter months,” said Yolanda Gainwell, Interim CEO for the Red Cross of South Carolina. “We at the Red Cross are urging families to take home fire safety steps to keep your family safe this winter.”

Georgia state crews clear I-20 and Bobby Jones Expressway

Preparations are underway in Augusta for the winter weather event, which is expected to begin Friday morning.

GDOT crews have plowed all of Bobby Jones Expressway and are now working on the shoulders.

How to safely heat your home

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), space heaters are most often responsible for home heating fires.

The Red Cross says to follow these tips on how to safely heat your home:

If you must use a space heater, never leave it unattended. Place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface, such as a ceramic tile floor.
Plug space heater power cords directly into outlets — never into an extension cord.
Keep children, pets and anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment.
Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.
Never leave a fire burning in the fireplace unattended. Make sure any embers in the fireplace are extinguished before going to bed or leaving home.
Have furnaces, chimneys, fireplaces, wood and coal stoves inspected annually by a professional and cleaned if necessary.