Red Cross Home Fire Campaign installs 2.5 million free smoke alarms nationwide

Since October 2014, the campaign has saved at least 45 lives in Greater Pennsylvania Region

The American Red Cross Home Fire Campaign with the support of community partners has achieved its goal of installing 2.5 million free smoke alarms and making 1 million households safer across the country.

Since launching in October 2014, the campaign has saved at least 1,583 lives nationwide — including 45 people in the Greater Pennsylvania Region — from the threat of home fires, which claim seven lives every day in the U.S. Most often, these tragedies occur in homes without working smoke alarms.

“We are proud of our incredible work with community partners to help save lives by providing free smoke alarms in Pennsylvania as part of the national Home Fire Campaign,” said Jorge Martinez, CEO, American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania. “This amazing effort has been made possible by every volunteer, donor and supporter who teamed up to care for vulnerable families in our community.”

In the Greater Pennsylvania Region, since October 2014, Red Cross volunteers and partners have:

Installed more than 98,000 free smoke alarms

Made more than 36,000 households safer

Educated nearly 90,000 children through youth preparedness programs

Free home fire services to continue because home fires remain a daily threat and the campaign has made a lifesaving difference, the Red Cross will be continuing the program with community partners as part of its standard services.

Visit redcross.org/ greaterpa to request a home fire safety visit or volunteer for a Sound the Alarm event in your community. No prior experience is needed. Training will be provided before volunteer teams visit area homes to install smoke alarms and share fire safety information.

In addition, the campaign's other services will continue, such as teaching children about the threat of home fires and what to do through youth preparedness programs, installing accessible fire safety equipment like bedshaker alarms and strobe light smoke alarms for residents who are deaf or hard of hearing, and providing home fire safety resources in American Sign Language.

Home fires account for most of the more than 60,000 disasters that the Red Cross responds to annually across the country. So far in 2023, Greater Pennsylvania Red Cross volunteers have helped more than 960 people affected by more than 240 home fires by providing emergency lodging, financial assistance for urgent needs like food and clothing, and one-on-one recovery support for navigating next steps and connecting with community resources.

Read more stories and see the campaign's national impact at redcross.org/HomeFireStories.

How to get involved: Help save lives through the campaign by becoming a volunteer or making a financial donation to prepare, respond and help families recover from home fires. Learn more at redcross.org/ greaterpa.

You can also help your family by testing your smoke alarms monthly and practicing your two-minute home fire escape plan. Additional safety tips are available at redcross. org/fire and on the free Red Cross Emergency app (search “American Red Cross” in mobile app stores).