Volunteers are needed to Sound the Alarm on home fire safety and help install more than 1,000 free smoke alarms for local families in Washington, DC and Brentwood, MD - two communities within a Red Cross region where disaster workers responded to more than 1,300 home fire-related emergencies in 2021.
The Red Cross National Capital & Greater Chesapeake Region is leading a Sound the Alarm smoke alarm installation and home fire safety event on May 7th with DC Fire & Rescue; and on May 14th with Prince George’s County Fire - as part of a national Red Cross initiative in May to install 50,000 free smoke alarms with partners in more than 50 at-risk communities across the country.
“Sound the Alarm is meaningful way to be a part of a larger movement while directly helping local families,” said Wendy Vara, Interim Regional Executive for the Red Cross of the National Capital & Greater Chesapeake Region “In just one day, you could help save a neighbor’s life by installing smoke alarms — which can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half.”
People can register now at SoundTheAlarm.org to install free smoke alarms and share fire safety information with residents during either or both local Sound the Alarm events. No prior experience is needed. On-site training will be provided before volunteer teams, with members of the Red Cross and local fire departments, visit area homes.
Dates and Locations to Volunteer
May 7, 2022
DCFD Engine 32
2425 Irving St SE,
Washington DC 20020
9am-2pm (Lunch provided!)
May 14, 2022
Brentwood Volunteer Fire Department
3716 Rhode Island Ave,
Brentwood MD 20722
9am-2pm (Lunch provided!)
Because of generous donations, all Red Cross services are free and available for people in need. Can’t join the event? Help by donating at SoundTheAlarm.org to help people prepare for, respond to and recover from home fires — which account for most of the over 60,000 U.S. disasters that the Red Cross responds to annually. This Sound the Alarm event is a critical part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, which has helped save nearly 1,300 lives since launching in October 2014.
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.