By Mimi Teller/American Red Cross

When David Hoy knocks on a door, he knows what’s at stake. It’s not just about installing free smoke alarms—it’s about giving people a fighting chance to survive a home fire.

Born in Hong Kong and raised in Calexico, CA, Hoy has been a volunteer with the American Red Cross Los Angeles Region for more than a dozen years, though his connection goes back even further. In the early 2000s, he started as a Red Cross CPR instructor, and went on to volunteer with other charitable organizations like Tzu Chi. It was through Tzu Chi—one of the Red Cross community partners in disaster response and preparedness, where Hoy learned about Sound the Alarm (STA), part of the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign launched in 2014.

The program installs free smoke alarms and shares fire safety education with people in the most vulnerable communities. Hoy was present at the very beginning—and he’s never stopped. Since 2014, he has installed more than 200 alarms across Southern California and shows up to every single STA event he can.

Hoy remembers visiting the home of a woman in her late 80s who lived alone with no family to rely on. Her small house was so packed with clothes stored in every corner that it was nearly impossible to find space to move from room to room. It also lacked a smoke alarm—her best chance to escape in time if the worst happened. “When I told her, ‘The Red Cross is here—we’re here to help you,’ I could see it in her eyes—someone had finally come to help.”

That moment stuck with him, but it wasn’t the only one. David has met countless families—many in Latino and Asian communities, who have lived in their homes for decades without ever installing smoke alarms. He says his language skills make a big difference for the people he helps too. He speaks Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish and French, which helps him connect with people who might otherwise be hesitant to open their doors.

Installing smoke alarms is only part of the job. David makes sure families know how to create escape plans and practice fire drills at home. “It’s prevention,” he says. “The alarms save lives, but you also have to know how to get out.”

Hoy also volunteers with the Red Cross as a shelter associate, a blood transportation specialist and a nightly on-call member of the Disaster Action Team (DAT).

“I’m signed up to be on call every night,” he says. “When there’s a fire, I want to be there to help. I respond to so many home fires.”

Most of the 65,000 disasters the Red Cross responds to each year are home fires—the nation’s most common disaster. Every day in the U.S., home fires claim an average of seven lives and cause more than 30 injuries, with children and older adults at greatest risk. That’s why DAT volunteers like David remain on call day and night—ready to provide shelter, supplies and comfort so families don’t have to face hardship alone.

For David, the mission is simple: whether answering DAT calls, working in shelters, supporting Service to the Armed Forces, or delivering blood to hospitals across Southern California—the Red Cross is there when people need it most. And so is he.

Join our team of volunteers who go out on weekends to install free smoke alarms. Find more information at SoundTheAlarm.org/LA.

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 follow us on social media.