LOS ANGELES, May 5, 2022 — Angelenos are needed to help install free smoke alarms for local families throughout Los Angeles County, where in 2022 alone, volunteers have supported more than 650 people following 134 home fires.
The American Red Cross Los Angele Region is kicking off its Sound the Alarm smoke alarm installation and home fire safety events in Palmdale and West Hollywood on May 7. Throughout May, events will be hosted in Los Angeles Communities, including the communities of Baldwin Park, Inglewood, Montebello and Long Beach, as part of a national Red Cross initiative to install 50,000 free smoke alarms with partners in more than 50 at-risk communities across the country.
“Sound the Alarm is meaningful way to be a part of a larger movement while directly helping local families,” said Joanne Nowlin, CEO for the Red Cross Los Angeles. “In just one day, you could help save a neighbor’s life by installing smoke alarms — which can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half.”
People can register now at redcross.org/lahomefire to install free smoke alarms and share fire safety information with residents during a local Sound the Alarm event in May. No prior experience is needed. Training will be provided before volunteer teams, with members of the Red Cross and partners visit area homes with scheduled appointments.
Because of generous donations, all services are free and available for people in need. Can’t join the event? Help by donating to the Red Cross at redcross.org/lahomefire to help people prepare for, respond to and recover from home fires — which account for most of the U.S. disasters that the Red Cross responds to every eight minutes.
IF YOU NEED A SMOKE ALARM Residents in Los Angeles County who need assistance can visit redcross.org/lahomefire to schedule an appointment for a free smoke alarm installation during a Red Cross Sound the Alarm event. During the 15-minute home visits, Red Cross volunteers and partners will also share information on the causes of home fires, how to prevent them, what to do if a fire starts and how to create an escape plan.
LOS ANGELES JOINS NATIONAL SOUND THE ALARM EFFORT This Sound the Alarm event is part of a national Red Cross initiative in May to install 50,000 free smoke alarms with partners in more than 50 at-risk communities across the country. Sound the Alarm events are a critical part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, which has helped save at least 1, 275 lives since launching in October 2014. As part of the campaign in Los Angeles, Red Cross LA volunteers and local partners have installed more than 52,000 free smoke alarms and made more than 17,600 households safer.
This work is made possible thanks to generous financial donations from regional partners: Southern California Edison, Howmet Aerospace Foundation, SoCalGas and Cedars Sinai.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.