LOS ANGELES, CA, March 19, 2025 — The American Red Cross Los Angeles Region is helping 1000 people affected by 400 home fires this Saturday, March 22nd 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Lomita.

The Red Cross provided food, shelter, emotional care, recovery planning and financial assistance for the recent California Wildfires and continued response for local home fires. So far this year, local Red Cross volunteers have helped 63 people affected by 93 home fires in our community — which is a 5% increase in local home fires responses.

“Our hearts go out to our neighbors who were impacted by these fires,” Amy Papageorges, Executive Director, Greater Long Beach & South Bay Chapter. “Because these disasters can happen anytime, anywhere, please help stay safe by testing your smoke alarms each month and practicing your home fire escape plan until everyone in your household can escape in two minutes or less.”

SOUND THE ALARM, FREE HOME FIRE SERVICES The Red Cross Sound the Alarm campaign has been ongoing since 2014 and has saved at least 2,320 lives nationwide from the threat of home fires, which claim seven lives every day in the U.S. Through the campaign, the Red Cross provides resources for communities across the country to learn more about fire safety through an on-site tutorial and installation of working smoke alarms. 

This weekend, Red Cross LA will continue the life-saving program with the support of community partners to deliver its standard services, including the Sound the Alarm event on March 22 to install free smoke alarms.

For home fire safety resources and tips, visit redcross.org/fire or download the free Red Cross Emergency App (search “American Red Cross” in app stores or go to redcross.org/apps).

OUR CAMPAIGN TO #ENDHOMEFIRES Home fires take seven lives each day in the U.S., most often in homes without working smoke alarms. That’s why the Red Cross is working with partners to install free smoke alarms in high-risk communities and help families create escape plans through its Home Fire Campaign — which has saved at least 2,320 lives across the country since launching in October 2014. In Lomita, the Greater Long Beach & South Bay chapter and local partners have installed 13,472 free smoke alarms and made 4,505 households safer from the threat of home fires.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.