Despite the number of storms, tornadoes and flooding that left several South Dakota communities devastated this year, the Red Cross reports that home fires continue to affect more people than all other disasters combined. Brian Shawn is the regional communications officer for the Red Cross in South Dakota and he says the weather last winter contributed to the number of fires.

Shawn says the organization helped more people in 2014 than the previous year, responding to emergencies and assisting families after different types of disasters.

Shawn says the Red Cross has launched a nationwide campaign to reduce the number of home fire deaths and injuries by 25 percent over the next five years through education and prevention. He says so far, they have installed over 450 smoke alarms in eastern South Dakota.