The Southeast Chapter of the Indiana Region of the American Red Cross is seeking volunteers to help install free smoke alarms for local families during a Sound the Alarm home fire safety event in Bloomington on Saturday, May 3.

“Sound the Alarm is a rewarding way to give back and directly help local families,” said Southeast Chapter Executive Director James Griffith. “It’s a day of coming together to support one another, especially those most vulnerable to home fires. A working smoke alarm can be the difference between survival and tragedy, and as a community, we can help our neighbors stay safe by ensuring they have these lifesaving devices.”

JOIN US Those interested can register now to volunteer during the Red Cross Sound the Alarm event on Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Click here to create an account and register to volunteer for this event! No prior experience is needed. Training will be provided at the Monroe County Fire Department located at 2130 Kirby Road, Bloomington, IN 47403, before volunteer teams, along with members of the Red Cross, visit area homes to install smoke alarms and share fire safety information.

DONATIONS HELP PROVIDE FREE SERVICES Because of generous donations, all services are free and available for people in need. Can’t join the event? Donate to the Red Cross by clicking here or visit SoundTheAlarm.org to help people prepare for, respond to and recover from home fires — which account for most of the U.S. disasters that the Red Cross responds to every eight minutes.

IF YOU NEED A SMOKE ALARM Residents in Bloomington who need assistance can click here to schedule an appointment for a free smoke alarm installation. During the 20-minute 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.

2,369 LIVES SAVED AND COUNTING This Sound the Alarm event is a critical part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, which has helped save 2,369 lives since launching in October 2014. During this time, the American Red Cross and local partners have installed more than 2.6 million free smoke alarms and made more than 1.1 million households safer in the US.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross of Indiana Region serves 6.9 million people in 104 counties in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio through its chapters: Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, and Greater Indianapolis (Regional Headquarters). 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 us at Redcross.org/Indiana or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @indianaredcross.