By Stephanie Babyak, Red Cross volunteer

Home fires are the most common disaster in this country, claiming seven lives every day. Most often, these tragedies occur in homes without working smoke alarms. But the American Red Cross has been working to help reduce home fire-related deaths and injuries by installing free smoke alarms in homes in underserved communities. This grassroots and lifesaving work began in 2014 and continues to be a priority for volunteers and community partners across the National Capital and Greater Chesapeake region. Year after year and home after home the impact is now adding up—with at least 75 local lives saved thanks to free smoke alarms installation and home fire education efforts in our communities.  

In April 2023, Nicole Brown welcomed a team of Red Cross volunteers into her mother’s home in Southeast Washington, D.C., to check the home’s smoke alarms. That day, the National Capital & Greater Chesapeake Region’s annual Sound the Alarm event was taking place in partnership with the District of Columbia Fire and EMS. With a goal of making homes safer from fires, volunteers install new smoke alarms, check batteries in existing alarms and sit down with families to create home fire escape plans that get every household member out in two minutes or less.  

Properly working smoke alarms reduce deaths and injuries related to home fires by 50 percent. Here, the Red Cross team determined that the existing smoke alarms had weak sensors, and the alarms needed to be replaced. Nicole Brown’s mother was elderly and lived alone, so the family appreciated the help from the Red Cross in checking the smoke alarms. “We weren’t aware that smoke alarms often don’t work correctly after 10 years. With the new alarms installed, I know that my mother is protected, and that gives me peace of mind,” said Nicole. 

While two members of the team replaced the smoke alarms near the kitchen and bedroom, other volunteers reviewed an escape plan and discussed steps to take in the event of a home fire. Then, the team went on to the next home in the neighborhood.  

This year, it was “all hands on deck” as the local Red Cross, alongside community partners, installed free smoke alarms in two Baltimore City communities. With a goal of installing around 500 free smoke alarms, over 150 volunteers and staff focused on making homes, like Tia Langley’s, safer.  

Tia Langley was only five years old when she experienced a home fire and the panic that comes with such a traumatic incident. Today, as a mom of three children – two with access and functional needs – she is extremely grateful for the Red Cross and the Sound the Alarm event that occurred on April 13 in her Baltimore City neighborhood.  

"I don't want my kids to get so scared like I did when I was just a toddler and that kitchen fire sparked up. I'm grateful – grateful for the Red Cross volunteers who rang my doorbell today and grateful they showed me how to make a fire escape plan to get the kids out of the house if we ever have that again."  

Last year, the Red Cross of the National Capital & Greater Chesapeake Region responded to more than 1,200 emergencies throughout the region – and the vast majority were home fires. And nationally, with support from thousands of community partners since 2014, the American Red Cross has achieved its goal of installing 2.5 million free smoke alarms and making 1 million households safer across the country.  

Is your household prepared for a home fire? Just two simple steps can help prepare your family to escape from a home fire.  

1. Practice a 2-minute fire drill so each member of the family can escape from any room in the house to a safe meeting place. 

1. Test your smoke alarms monthly.   

The Red Cross Sound the Alarm home page has these tips and other helpful information to protect you and your family. Of course, this life-saving work would not be possible without our wonderful Red Cross volunteers and donors.   

Just one day of your time at a Sound the Alarm installation event could save a life. The families of Nicole Brown and Tia Langley are better prepared in a home fire emergency thanks to the Red Cross. Join the Red Cross to help families like theirs by volunteering, educating families about home fire prevention, or donating. More information about the Red Cross National Capital & Greater Chesapeake Region that serves the Delaware, Maryland and Virginia area, is available here.