FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA., (FEBRUARY 26, 2024) – On Saturday, February 24, volunteers of the South Florida Red Cross and local partners installed 444 free smoke alarms for families, educated over 473 people on the importance of fire safety and served 165 homes during a Sound the Alarm home fire safety event in Tamarac's Vanguard Village and Fort Lauderdale's The Village Mobile Home Park.

"We are grateful to everyone who supported our Sound the Alarm event to help keep hundreds of our neighbors safe from home fires," said Paula Prendergast, executive director for the Broward County Chapter. "Home fires are a constant threat in our community, accounting for most of our disaster responses. This weekend's efforts will make a lasting difference to help save lives and protect those who are most vulnerable."

SAVING LIVES FROM NATION'S MOST FREQUENT DISASTER Home fires are the nation's most frequent disaster, including in South Florida, where Red Cross volunteers have responded to over 62 home fires in the first month of the year.

This Sound the Alarm event is a critical part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, which has helped save 2,030 lives since launching in October 2014. Locally during this time, the South Florida Red Cross and local partners have installed more than 44,344 free smoke alarms and made more than 21,376 households safer.

Visit SoundTheAlarm.org to learn more and make a donation to the Red Cross to help people prepare for, respond to and recover from home fires.

IF YOU NEED A SMOKE ALARM Residents in South Florida who need assistance can visit redcross.org/SFLsmokealarm to schedule an appointment for a free smoke alarm installation year-round. During the home visits, Red Cross volunteers will also share information on the causes of home fires, how to prevent them, what to do if a fire starts and how to create an escape plan.

This work is made possible thanks to generous financial donations from regional partners: Ryder System, Inc., JM Family Enterprises, Inc., Tropical Financial Credit Union, Wells Fargo, American Express, CarMax and MIRA USA. Special thanks to local supporters City of Tamarac Mayor Michelle Gomez and City of Tamarac Division Fire Chief Tommy Demopoulos.

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/SouthFlorida or visit us on Facebook or X at @SFLRedCross.