Burned couches part of new Philly fire-awareness campaign

What would you do if your living room was on fire? How would you get out, who would you call?

Those are questions the Southeastern Pennsylvania chapter of the Red Cross and the Philadelphia Fire Department want you to think about. And to make sure you’re really doing that, they’ve set up burned living room sets around Center City.

To raise awareness of home fires and generate funds for fire victims, the Red Cross began its “What Now?” initiative at SEPTA’s Market East Station this morning. There, and elsewhere throughout the winter, you’ll see dioramas of burned living room furniture.

“Last year 750 fires in the region completely displaced 1100 families from their homes,” according to Red Cross statistics. Many of those families were given relief and shelter by the Red Cross.

At today’s opening event, the Red Cross distributed home fire fact sheets, checklists and preparedness tips.