By David Ullman, Red Cross writer

When a fire started in the home of Caleb and Tabrizia Phillips, it went unnoticed and could have resulted in a tragedy for the Phillips and their two young children. 

“Our water heater caught fire, and our smoke alarms didn't go off,” remembered Tabrizia. “It almost burned our house down. It was terrifying.”

So, although the family had smoke alarms, they were unaware that the sensitivity of the devices’ internal sensors had dulled over time.

By Jennifer Costa, Red Cross regional communications director

“I’ve always been fascinated by blood.”

Ivy Grey Robinson turned that fascination into a career when she became a phlebotomist with the American Red Cross in Maine. For her, the work is personal. When Ivy's sister was young, she fell through a glass coffee table and suffered a severe injury.

By Jennifer Costa, regional communications director

David Ullman, Red Cross writer

For Mark Ryder of Milford, Maine, home fire safety is a prominent aspect of his life. Living in rural Maine, Ryder is aware that, when there are limited local resources, the homeowner must take advantage of every fire safety and fire prevention program offered in his community. When he learned that the American Red Cross had scheduled a community smoke alarm installation event for northern and eastern Maine in late January, he immediately signed up.

As part of this Home Fire Campaign, the Red Cross hosts Sound the Alarm events, daylong installation events in at-risk communities where teams of Red Cross volunteers install free smoke alarms and provide critical home fire safety education to help prevent future tragedies.   

By Peter de Paolo, Red Cross writer