FORT MYERS (October 30, 2018) — Florida’s Southern Gulf Chapter of the American Red Cross installed 430 free smoke alarms along with their partners on Saturday, October 27 to make homes safer in Lee County as part of the nationwide Red Cross effort to help reduce the number of deaths and injuries from home fires.

“Home fires are the biggest disaster threat we face, killing seven people in this country every day,” said Jill Palmer, Executive Director for the Southern Gulf Chapter. “We are grateful to have the help of our Red Cross volunteers and community partners like the United Way and local fire department to make our community safer and combat this tragic statistic.”

The Southern Gulf Chapter partnered with United Way of Lee County and North Fort Myers Fire Department for United Way’s Day of Caring Event, where more than 175 homes were visited and made safer at Old Bridge Village in North Fort Myers, Fla.

Across the country, the Home Fire Campaign is helping save lives by installing free smoke alarms in homes that don’t have them and by educating people about fire safety. As of October 18, the Red Cross and our partners across the country have saved at least 472 lives.

The Red Cross responds to nearly 64,000 disasters a year, the majority of which are home fires. To learn more on how you can get involved and become a Red Cross volunteer, visit redcross.org/sflvolunteer or call (239) 593-6868.

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 Twitter at @SFLRedCross.