PARKERSBURG – The Mid-Ohio Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross has received a $10,000 donation from the Grainger Foundation.

The funds will be used to finance a program aimed at reducing and eliminating damages, injuries and fatalities from fires particularly around the holidays, said Sharon Kesselring, financial development officer for the chapter.

The program is part of the Home Fire Preparedness Campaign, an initiative of the American Red Cross to reduce death and injuries by 25 percent in five years, she said.

“This is a nationwide program,” Kesselring said.

The Grainger Foundation is an independent, private foundation in Lake Forest, Ill., established by William W. Grainger, founder of W.W. Grainger.

Organizations are recommended through local Grainger stores, according Ashley Burchard, local market manager for Grainger.

According to Kesselring, of the 70,000 disasters each year in the United States, most are fires in homes. About 800 fires occurred in the West Virginia Region, she said.

A Red Cross survey showed about one in five Americans admits leaving food cooking unattended on the stove, a major cause of kitchen fires, Kesselring said.

“Thanksgiving is the peak day for kitchen fires, and most of those are caused by unattended cooking,” Kesselring said. “The good news is that home fires can be prevented by following some simple, safety tips.”

If something catches fire in the oven, keep the door closed and call 911.

If a pan catches fire, don’t move it. Slide a pan lid or cookie sheet on top of the pan to put out the fire. Turn off the heat. Keep the lid on the pan until it cools. Never try to stop a grease or oil fire with water as it will fuel the fire.