Media Contact: 

Dana Maze, Regional Communications Manager 

dana.maze@redcross.org 

Effort is part of national Home Fire Campaign, which has saved at least 2,063 lives

SAN DIEGO, April 10, 2024 — On Saturday, April 6, the American Red Cross of San Diego and Imperial Counties and community partners installed 650 free smoke alarms and made 255 San Diego homes safer during a Sound the Alarm home fire safety event.

“We are grateful to everyone who supported our Sound the Alarm event to help keep hundreds of our neighbors safe from home fires,” said Melissa Altman, Regional Preparedness Manager for the American Red Cross Southern California Region. “Home fires are a constant threat in our community, accounting for most of our disaster responses. Our home fire preparedness efforts will make a lasting difference to help save lives and protect those who are most vulnerable.”

MAKING LOCAL HOMES SAFER More than 200 volunteers participated in the San Diego Sound the Alarm event, including volunteers from California Bank & Trust, San Diego Gas & Electric, Sycuan Casino and Resort, BJ’s Restaurants, Paul Davis Restoration, San Diego Fire and Rescue, National University, National Charity League, Team Rubicon, Qualcomm and more. In addition to installing 650 smoke alarms, volunteers and partners also shared information on the causes of home fires, what to do if a fire starts and how to create an escape plan. Click here to see photos from the Sound the Alarm event.

SAVING LIVES FROM NATION’S MOST FREQUENT DISASTER Home fires are the nation’s most frequent disaster. Sound the Alarm events are a critical part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, which has helped save at least 2,063 lives since launching in October 2014. Locally during this time, the Red Cross and partners have installed more than 45,000 free smoke alarms and made more than 15,900 households safer in San Diego and Imperial Counties.

Visit SoundTheAlarm.org/SoCal to learn more, request a free smoke alarm installation, or make a donation to the Red Cross to help people prepare for, respond to and recover from home fires.

This work is made possible thanks to generous financial donations from regional partners: San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Pacific Life Foundation, San Diego Gas & Electric, U.S. Bank, Motorola Solutions Foundation and COX.

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 social media.

# # #