CARMEL — The American Red Cross of Maine and the Carmel Fire Department are teaming up to make town residents safer by installing free smoke alarms in their homes and teaching them about fire safety.
Carmel residents can make an appointment for free smoke alarm installation by calling the Red Cross at 874-1192, extension 113, or going to www.redcross.org/local/maine/home-fire-safety. The Red Cross, the Fire Department and community volunteers will perform the installations on Saturday, Jan. 27.
People interested in volunteering for the event can also use the phone number and website above.
“Recent home fires in the community underscore the importance of smoke alarms. People may have as little as two minutes to escape a burning home before it’s too late,” said Fire Chief Ryan Simpson. “Working smoke alarms cut the risk of death by half, and an escape plan further improves the odds. Please take advantage of this opportunity to make yourselves and your families safer.”
The Carmel event is part of an ambitious national campaign launched by the Red Cross to reduce home fire deaths by a quarter by 2020. So far, the campaign has saved at least 332 lives – including 8 people in Farmingdale.
“Home fires kill an average of seven people every day in the United States – more than all other natural disasters combined,” said Red Cross Disaster Program Manager Kristen Simas. “We know smoke alarms do save lives. Home by home, community by community, we are making Maine people safer.”
Since its launch in October 2014, the national campaign has installed more than 1 million free smoke alarms. Here in Maine, the Red Cross and its partners have installed 10,000.
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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 MaineRedCross.org, like the American Red Cross of Maine on Facebook or visit us on Twitter at @ARC_Maine.
