By Michelle Tanner

Volunteers with the American Red Cross North Texas Region went door-to-door on April 25 throughout the Sleepy Hollow Mobile Home Park in Fort Worth, Texas, helping families stay safe by installing free smoke alarms and sharing fire safety information. Together, teams checked 100 homes during the Sound the Alarm event.

Leading the effort was David Burke, a retired firefighter and current Red Cross employee who has spent decades educating families about the importance of fire prevention and preparedness.

“This is my passion project,” Burke said. “As a retired firefighter, I know the importance of alarms to help families stay safe.”

Volunteers spoke with residents, replaced outdated alarms and installed new 10-year smoke alarms where needed. They also helped families create fire escape plans and identify meeting places outside the home in case of an emergency.

“If you have more than one person living in the home, have a plan and make sure it includes a meeting place,” Burke said. “Many injuries to occupants and firefighters happen when people don’t know someone is out of the building and safe, and people go back into the building looking for the person.”

Burke worked for 37 years in fire departments, learning how early detection saves lives and property. Being a part of the Red Cross Sound the Alarm program was a “no-brainer” for him.

The Red Cross Sound the Alarm program installs free smoke alarms in homes nationwide to help cut the risk of dying in a house fire by half. The program also includes fire safety education and helps families create escape plans to improve preparedness at home.

If you know a neighborhood that needs a Sound the Alarm event, contact your local Red Cross chapter or your local fire department, which will coordinate with the Red Cross.

For more fire safety tips, visit the Sound the Alarm program web page.

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 us at redcross.org/NorthTexas, CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow RedCrossNTX on social media.