The American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region (SEPA) hosted its signature Sound the Alarm event on May 1 in the Kingsessing neighborhood of Southwest Philadelphia.

Thirty teams comprised of Philadelphia firefighters, civic leaders, volunteers and corporate partners canvassed the neighborhood to install 417 smoke alarms in 146 homes, helping protect 362 residents. The event marked the largest of five Sound the Alarm efforts taking place across the region this spring.

Kicking Off The Day

Speaking from a podium on a beautiful Friday morning, Red Cross SEPA CEO Jennifer Graham welcomed the crowd gathered on the athletic field at the Kingsessing Recreation Center by emphasizing the initiative’s lifesaving impact.

 “What we’re doing today truly matters. Since this program began 12 years ago, we have installed more than 36,000 free, lifesaving smoke alarms across Southeastern Pennsylvania, and more than 3 million nationwide. These efforts are part of our national Home Fire Campaign to save lives. And it’s working!” she said.

Graham went door to door with Deputy Fire Commissioner Joshua McGuoirk, Kingsessing Heals Community Resilience Center Executive Director Tim Massaquoi and Red Cross Philadelphia Chapter Board Chair Matthew Rosenberg.

Deputy Commissioner McGuoirk also addressed the participants at the kickoff.

“As our nation marks our 250 years, neighborhoods like Kingsessing remind us that strength has always come from our people looking out for one another,” he said. “That same spirit is the heart of today's work – protecting our communities, our families and making sure that every household has the tools that they need to be safe.”

Speaking on behalf of the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management, Deputy Director for Strategy, Engagement and Administration Angel Roebuck shared her unique perspective as a former Red Crosser.

“This work is also very deeply personal,” she shared. “I had the opportunity to see firsthand how devastating home fires can be to not only families, but the Philadelphia community as a whole. But I also saw something very powerful – preparation, partnership and preparedness.”

Making Homes Safer

Among the teams canvassing the neighborhood were Red Cross volunteers Barbara Turner and team leader Tracey Howard.

Howard, who greeted participants when they first arrived at the recreation center, has volunteered for the Red Cross since 2016 in several different roles, including helping assemble supplies (warehouse kitting) and working as a blood donor ambassador.

She once experienced a fire that burned part of her home, guiding her passion during the Sound the Alarm event to show families how crucial it is to prepare for a fire before it happens.

“You need a plan and understand when you get out stay out. Don’t go back in.”

She said, “I’m passionate about whatever the Red Cross does to help families at a very vulnerable time in emergencies. Wherever they need me I go.”

Although Howard has worked Sound the Alarm events before, it was the first one for Turner and her teammates Ammar Albahrani and Rich Rodenberger, who work for the utility company PECO, a Sound the Alarm sponsor.

Albahrani is a principal engineer for PECO and Rodenberger joined PECO in July 2025 as a vegetation program manager. They climbed ladders to install smoke alarms in several homes, making residents like Ivyoyne Harris, who worries about her family in a fire, feel safer.

“I want to make sure everybody’s safe and nobody is dying in their sleep,” she said.

The Red Cross team checked the smoke alarms before leaving Harris’ home.

After hearing the piercing sound echoing throughout the house, she said, “I can sleep well at night now because I’m pretty sure I’m going to hear this!”

Harris’ family shares their home with their pets, a Yorkie named Chloe and a cat named Carl.

Harris thanked the Red Cross volunteer team for installing the smoke alarms and offered them bottles of water.

Turner turns 80 in July and has volunteered for the Red Cross for more than 10 years. She called it “amazing” that volunteers make up 90% of the Red Cross workforce.

“People that otherwise could be doing something else choose to come out and help other people.” She said, “The sense of gratitude and self-satisfaction that you get knowing you made a difference in someone else’s life is a wonderful thing.”

Making It Possible

Sound the Alarm is made possible thanks to generous financial donations from our regional partners: Ametek Foundation, Inc., Clarke & Cohen, Lincoln Financial Foundation, Morgan Properties, PECO, Penn Medicine and The Wawa Foundation. Wawa also provided breakfast and lunch for all participants. National sponsors are FEMA and State Farm.

Extending Our Reach

If you live in Southeastern Pennsylvania and cannot afford to purchase smoke alarms or are physically unable to install them, the Red Cross may be able to help. Visit soundthealarm.org/Philly for information and to submit a request. Philadelphia residents may also dial 3-1-1 to request free smoke alarms. You can also visit soundthealarm.org/Philly to learn about Sound the Alarm events in your area.

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- Written by Jenny Farley and Alana Mauger