With home fires as the biggest disaster threat facing families in Central New York, the American Red Cross is joining with fire departments in Fayetteville, Kirkville, Manlius and Minoa to install smoke alarms, discuss fire safety and distribute fire safety information to local residents. 

Seven times a day someone in this country dies in a fire. The Red Cross has been working to reduce that number through its Home Fire Campaign, a multi-year effort to reduce the number of home fire deaths and injuries by 25 percent. Launched in October of 2014, the Red Cross and thousands of campaign partners have helped save numerous lives through the effort, as well as installing hundreds of thousands of smoke alarms in homes all across the country. 

In the past year, the Central New York Chapter and its partners installed 904 smoke alarms in homes that need them. During that time, volunteers provided food, shelter, comfort and hope to 215 families affected by home and apartment fires. 

“Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in home fires by half,” said Rosie Taravella, Western and Central New York Regional CEO. “As a part of our work to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies, the Red Cross and its partners are educating the community and providing vital information on fire safety and the importance of maintaining working smoke alarms. We are thrilled to have the support of these local fire departments to help us carry out this life-saving service.” 

Many fire departments provide free smoke alarms to residents, and this formal partnership with the Red Cross combines resources to reach vulnerable populations in the most effective and efficient means possible. 

Home Fire Campaign visits are open to all households. For more information, or to schedule a visit, log onto http://www.redcross.org/local/new-york/western-central-new-york/home-fire-safety