RIEMA, Red Cross team up to prevent home fires April 18, 2021 FacebookTwitterEmail PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency and the state chapter of the American Red Cross are teaming up to prevent home fires, which they say have increased 40% compared to this time last year. The Sound the Alarm Prepare-a-thon is a volunteer effort to educate communities about how people can better prepare themselves and their loves ones, the organizations said in a statement. “Home fires have become more frequent during COVID-19 because more families are staying home,” said Marc Pappas, Director, Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency. “In a home fire, you only have two minutes to escape. The best way to survive a home fire is to prevent it in the first place."