TYLER (KYTX) - As the economy remains at a standstill, house fires in Smith County are on the rise.
In the cold weather, people struggling financially are finding alternative ways to stay warm, and some of them dangerous.
Says despite the rough economy, the Smith County community is still donating to help those who have been affected by these house fires and other disasters.
Smith County Red Cross volunteer Susan Campbell says,"It's a dangerous time of year for families just trying to make ends meet and pay utilities and stay warm."
She says when the weather gets chilly, people can become desperate, and they don't always make the best choices .
"We've had families come in who have brought small barbeque pits into their home, and lit to stay warm and of course it started a fire, or families who sleep too close to the fireplace and their blankets catch on fire," Campbell says.
Doug Willis donates to the needy people in Tyler. He says, "People are trying to stay warm, cold nights, they can't put on enough clothes. You have to heat your house up however you got to."
Campbell says it's only about to get worse.
"We have typically on an average 1 to 2 fires a week, and when we start to go into the really cold season such as January and February, it increases to 4 to 5 a week."
After these tragedies, people turn to the Red Cross, which runs off of donations.
Campbell says, "Christmas donations are critical for us, because we have to be prepared."
She says she's taken aback by the donations that come in, even with the economy in the gutter.
"We always see a generosity this time of year," Campbell says. "It's just the season, and people love to give and so we rely on those loyal donors who always open their hearts and their pocketbooks to help the Red Cross."
Willis says even though money's tight, he still does what he can to help his community.
"I pretty much cleaned out my closet myself and I've got 5 bags in the back of my truck that I'm going to give to the homeless people when I see them instead of money because I don't have a whole lot of money to give out this year. I'm trying to help out with what I can do."
The Red Cross only takes monetary donations, but you can also help by donating your time. The Red Cross is always looking for volunteers.
To donate or volunteer, you can drop by the Smith County office at 320 E. Rieck road, call (903) 581-7981, or go to their website at smithcounty.redcross.org.
