ATLANTA, GA (October 6, 2023) - The American Red Cross of Georgia is Sounding the Alarm once again on fire safety. This fall, volunteers, staff and community partners will work to educate residents on how to stay safe from fires and install 1,300 free smoke alarms across the state. Since the start of the Home Fire Campaign in 2014, the Red Cross has installed more than 2.5 million free smoke alarms nationwide and made 1 million households safer across the country.
The Red Cross is working in partnership with volunteers and fire departments across the state to ensure Georgia residents are ready to respond to a fire if one should happen in their home. Going door-to-door, the goal is to educate residents on what to do if there is a fire, install smoke alarms as needed, ensure all warning systems are working, and help residents develop an effective plan in case of an emergency.
This year’s Sound the Alarm campaign in Georgia are taking place from October 14 through November 11. The first event will be held on Saturday, October 14 in Augusta, Georgia.
Home fires account for the majority of the more than 60,000 disasters that the Red Cross responds to annually. Last year, the American Red Cross of Georgia responded to at least 2,800 single and multi-family home fires across the state. Additionally, more than 5,300 families were assisted because of those disasters.
Every day, seven people die as a result of home fires and often these tragedies occur in homes without working smoke alarms. Data has shown that one of the most effective ways to combat these statistics is with a working smoke alarm; in fact, smoke alarms can cut the risk of death by half. Since launching in October 2014, the Home Fire Campaign has saved at least 1,928 lives, including 240 in Georgia.
Upcoming Georgia Sound the Alarm installation and fire safety education opportunities October 14 – November 11:
Richmond County
10/14/2023: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Augusta
Barrow County
10/21/2023: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Winder
Whitfield County
10/21/2023: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Dalton
Cobb County
10/21/2023: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Austell
Treutlen County
10/21/2023: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Soperton
Fulton County
10/27/2023: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Union City
Polk County
10/28/2023: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Aragon
Chatham County
11/4/2023: 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Savannah
Dougherty County
11/4/2023: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Albany
Houston County
11/4/2023: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Perry
DeKalb County
11/4/2023: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Lithonia
Lanier County
11/4/2023: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Lakeland
Or visit: Georgia Sound the Alarm Events
This work is made possible thanks to generous financial donations from the community, including the Georgia Sound the Alarm Campaign sponsors Northside Hospital, Georgia Power Foundation, Georgia Natural Gas, Novelis, State Farm, Veritiv, Atlanta Gas Light, Aflac and Coweta-Fayette EMC.
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.