Red Cross Home Fire Campaign reaches goal of installing 2.5 million free smoke alarms nationwide

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 9 people in Washington state — 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 the Northwest Region as part of the national Home Fire Campaign,” said Dan Wirth, Interim CEO for the Red Cross Northwest Region. “This amazing effort has been made possible by every volunteer, donor and supporter who teamed up to care for vulnerable families in our community.”

 Locally in the Northwest Region, which includes the state of Washington and the five northern counties of Idaho, Red Cross volunteers and partners have:

• Installed more than 32,900 free smoke alarms

• Made more than 13,000 households safer.

• Educated more than 16,700 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, including Northwest Region Sound the Alarm events throughout the month of April to install free smoke alarms alongside community partners. Yakima, Washington has been chosen as the Red Cross Northwest Region’s 2023 Home Fire Campaign Signature City.

Visit redcross.org/nwhomefire to register for a home fire safety visit if you need assistance. During appointments, volunteers will 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 for your home.

 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 bed shaker 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 in the Northwest Region and across the country. So far in 2023, Red Cross volunteers have helped more than 690 people affected by more than 200 home fires in the Northwest Region 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 home fire survivor’s 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/nwhomefire.

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).