TAMPA, Fla. – March 7, 2025 – The American Red Cross and community partners are teaming up for Sound the Alarm home fire safety events across Central Florida starting March 15. This effort is part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, launched in 2014 to help reduce home fire-related deaths and injuries.

Home fires are this country’s deadliest and most frequent type of disaster. In calendar year 2024, the U.S. Home Fire Administration recorded 2,089 home fire fatalities in the U.S.

At Sound the Alarm events, Red Cross volunteers, local fire departments and community partners go door-to-door in neighborhoods vulnerable to home fires, installing free smoke alarms and sharing information on the causes of home fires, what to do if a fire starts and how to create an escape plan.

All events are open to community volunteers. Register at SoundtheAlarm.org/CentralFlorida.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE With the support of our community partners and dedicated volunteers, the campaign has installed 2.9 million free smoke alarms nationwide and helped to make 1.2 million homes safer. Through 2024, the campaign is credited with helping save more than 2,200 lives, about one-third of which were children.

WHEN FIRES HAPPEN After a home fire, Red Cross volunteers work with fire departments to connect with families for needs like emergency lodging, financial assistance and emotional support. Our services are free and available for all those in need.

WAYS TO HELP Visit SoundtheAlarm.org/CentralFlorida to volunteer for an event or to make a donation to support this lifesaving program.

WITH APPRECIATION This work is made possible thanks to generous financial donations to the Home Fire Program from regional partners: Circle K, Lockheed Martin, Oracle Orlando, Space Coast Credit Union, Hilton Grand Vacations, United Way of Central Florida and Wells Fargo.

The American Red Cross of Central Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands serves 19 Florida counties through five chapters: Florida’s Space Coast (Daytona Beach), Greater Orlando, Mid-Florida (Winter Haven), Southwest Florida (Sarasota) and Tampa Bay; and the Virgin Islands territory of St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John and Water Island. For more information, visit redcross.org. Also find us on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).

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.

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