By Loraine Hemingway, American Red Cross volunteer

Three strangers at your door? “Sound the alarm!” Smoke alarms, that is, provided and installed for free courtesy of the American Red Cross.

An offer and scenario like that might sound almost too good, even far-fetched, to be true – especially when it happens on April 1 of all days. However, for the residents of Hacienda Mobile Home Estates in Montclair, this was no foolish joke. Instead, it was a free service offered by the local Red Cross and partners to help end home fire deaths and injuries.

Sound the Alarm, in this context, is not a phrase but an annual event critical to the nationwide Red Cross Home Fire Campaign. Home fires claim seven lives every day, but one working smoke alarm can double a family’s chance of survival in a home fire. Over the eight years since its launch, the campaign has resulted in 72,600 installations in communities across Southern California, making more than 26,100 households safer.

Of course, these numbers do not yet account for any ongoing 2023 progress, let alone the 215 fire alarms installed in 90 homes in Montclair serving 335 residents. But anyone who participated that day would know this personally – the good work achieved at a Sound the Alarm event is service beyond measure.

Prevention, Preparation, Evacuation

Teams of three were comprised of 84 volunteers from near and far and from affiliate organizations such as Walmart, Amazon, CarMax, Yucaipa Rotary and the Montclair Fire Department. Each team member acted as either an educator, an installer or a documenter. For 16-year-old Annabelle Lu, a member of the Inland Empire Tzu Chi Foundation, the educator role held a weight of responsibility.

Amongst the educational packets that Lu distributed were resources on stocking a survival kit, as well as a home fire escape plan for families to map out and practice a quick exit. “Most people were shocked that they only had 2-3 minutes to get to safety,” said Lu.

Residents of manufactured homes communities, like those at Hacienda Estates, are particularly at-risk due to factors such as narrow roads, tightly packed lots, and smaller floor plans which can all hasten fire growth and complicate access for escape or emergency response. Every second counts in a home fire, which Lu learned from a first-hand perspective. “I met a resident who was a victim of a home fire when he was young. Hearing his experience made it hit home that what I was teaching can truly happen to people.”

Lu also advised residents about pre-establishing a family emergency communications plan, teaching children how and when to call 9-1-1, and installing the right number of smoke alarms throughout a home. “I hope the info I shared will spread and that the families I spoke to will spread the word too.”

Drill team
Nigel Carter, a six-year volunteer with the Red Cross of Orange County, quite literally drilled in that last point about smoke alarms as an installer. Akin to Lu’s words of “two minutes” for safety, Carter demonstrated that it took him the same amount of time to install a smoke alarm. This speed proved helpful as many of the homes he visited only had one smoke alarm, yet as many as five more were needed throughout the house to comply with National Fire Alarm Code (NFPA 72) guidelines, which state that homes must have a smoke alarm on every level, outside each sleeping area, and inside each bedroom.

While smoke alarms are commonly found on ceilings, Carter prefers to mount them just below into the wall. “They’re easier to reach,” he explained. “People can check the batteries or dust the detector more often and I think it’s especially helpful for senior citizens who might hurt themselves when looking up.”

Reasons for strategic placements aside, the Red Cross does recommend everyone to “Turn and Test” smoke alarms at least every six months with the change of clocks for Daylight Savings Time.

Not so lost in translation
The meticulous documenter rounded out each trio and it was Amber Gibson, AmeriCorps Program Director all the way from Washington state, who filled that position in Nigel’s team.

Gibson leads recruitment and support of the 80+ AmeriCorps members serving yearly at American Red Cross chapter offices located throughout California. All members must complete a Capstone project that addresses a civic need as part of their 10-month contract. However, special credit goes to an insightful pair from the 2020-2021 cohort who sought to improve Sound the Alarm outreach for vulnerable populations with limited English proficiency or literacy.

In truth, barriers were removed on both sides. “I used to feel helpless not being able to collect residents’ information or convey the education piece, which can be just as important as the smoke alarm itself,” admitted Gibson.

The two still-active Red Cross members collaborated with native speaker volunteers of eight different languages to produce a series of QR-code enabled multi-lingual walk-through videos on home fire safety education and installation. Gibson was thrilled to not only see her former recruits’ project in action for the first time but grateful to have been able to benefit from it in her door-to-door visits as well. “It was incredibly uplifting to be able to connect with the homeowners even though we spoke different languages. This resource allowed me to make an impact today and potentially save a life.”

Are you ready to save a life?
Just one day of your life can change someone else’s forever. Those interested in supporting the Home Fire Campaign can register now at SoundTheAlarm.org/SoCal to volunteer for upcoming Sound the Alarm events and free smoke alarm installation appointments. No prior experience is needed.