SAN FRANCISCO —The American Red Cross Northern California Coastal Region (NCCR), local fire departments and community partners worked together to install 1,357 free smoke alarms in homes during the 2025 Sound the Alarm [JA2] campaign. From April 26 – May 23, communities in Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, Merced, San Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties were made safer thanks to free smoke alarms and home fire prevention education. Photos, b-roll and video from this year's campaign show the people, places and communities that went into preventing home fires.

“We are grateful to everyone who supported this year’s Sound the Alarm campaign to make over a thousand of our neighbors safer from home fires,” said John Ruiz, regional disaster officer. “Home fires are a constant threat in our community, accounting for most of our disaster responses. Our efforts will make a lasting difference to help save lives and protect those who are most vulnerable.”

MAKING LOCAL HOMES SAFER The San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department (SMCFD) participated in this year’s Sound the Alarm event in Vallejo on April 26, where volunteers shared information with residents on the causes of home fires, what to do if a fire starts and how to create an escape plan.

“Home fires can strike without warning, and the consequences can be devastating,” said SMCFD Deputy Chief Eric Mackintosh. “Having working smoke alarms in place can make all the difference, giving families precious seconds to escape safely. We’re honored to team up with the American Red Cross to help protect our community through this lifesaving effort.” 

SAVING LIVES FROM NATION’S MOST FREQUENT DISASTER The Sound the Alarm program is a critical part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, which has helped save at least 2,320 lives across the nation — including 32 lives in NCCR — since launching in October 2014. Locally, NCCR and our partners have installed more than 55,300 free smoke alarms and made over 20,000 households safer during this time frame.

Visit SoundTheAlarm.org/NCCR to learn more and get involved to help people prepare for, respond to and recover from home fires.

This work is made possible thanks to generous financial donations from our 2025 national Sound the Alarm partners, State Farm and FEMA; and our regional partners: FHL Bank San Francisco, Pacific Gas and Electric, CSAA Insurance Group, Robert and Virginia Stanton Endowment with the Community Foundation for Monterey County, Gloria and Mike Ipson, and Novato Mobile Home Park, LLC.

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 visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

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