The American Red Cross is calling for 35,000 volunteers to Sound the Alarm this fall to install 100,000 free smoke alarms in more than 100 major cities across the country, helping to save lives and lessen the number of tragedies attributed to home fires.

Locally, the Red Cross Central California Region is seeking hundreds of volunteers to help save lives at the following Sound the Alarm home fire safety and smoke alarm installation events:

Saturday, September 30, 2017

Fresno, CA

Saturday, October 7, 2017

Bakersfield, CA

Santa Barbara, CA

These local Sound the Alarm events are part of a nationwide series of home fire safety and smoke alarm installation events to be held between September 23 and October 15, culminating in the Red Cross’ installation of the one-millionth free smoke alarm since its Home Fire Campaign launched in 2014. 

Every day home fires are responsible for as many as seven deaths and 36 injuries in this country. The Red Cross wants that number reduced. So far, the Home Fire Campaign is responsible for saving 258 lives across the U.S.

Sound the Alarm is part of the ongoing Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, in which Red Cross volunteers and partners canvass high-risk neighborhoods to install free smoke alarms, replace batteries in existing alarms and help families create escape plans.

This work is made possible thanks to generous financial donations from national partners: Almost Family and Delta Air Lines. The Red Cross has also received funding from FEMA through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. Additional local support has been generously provided through Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Southern California Edison, CMC Rescue, and the Whitney Foundation.

Since 2014, Red Cross volunteers and members of more than 4,200 partner organizations have installed 886,823 smoke alarms in 10,664 cities and towns in all 50 states, serving more than 998,500 people. 

Here in the Central California Region, the Red Cross responded to help over 840 local families affected by home fires in the last year. This work was done thanks to the compassion and dedication of the 2,400 strong volunteer workforce in the 10 county region. 

Volunteer to help Sound the Alarm. Save a Life. 

- Visit SoundTheAlarm.org to find events in your local community and join neighbors in going door-to-door to install free smoke alarms, replace batteries in existing alarms and help families create escape plans. 

- Make this life-saving campaign a group activity. Invite friends and family to register.

Donate to help Sound the Alarm. Save a Life.

- Visit SoundTheAlarm.org to help families prepare, respond and recover from home fires. 

- Your donation will help educate families on fire safety; install free smoke alarms in high-risk neighborhoods nationwide; and provide food, comfort and aid to those who have been affected by a home fire. 

Join this Red Cross effort today by volunteering to install smoke alarms in your community, make a financial contribution, or take steps to protect your own family from home fires. Together, we can Sound the Alarm about fire safety and help save lives.