DALLAS, OCT. 3, 2023 — The American Red Cross North Texas Region is celebrating the installation of 50,000 free smoke alarms over the past nine years. Dozens of Red Cross volunteers gathered in Oak Cliff to mark the milestone at the home of Lesia Baker and to reach out to area residents and encourage them to sign up for free smoke alarms.

“A working smoke alarm can mean the difference between tragedy and survival when a home fire strikes,” said Linda Braddy, CEO of the Red Cross North Texas Region. “That’s why the Red Cross is teaming up with local partners in the community to help ensure Oak Cliff residents, especially those most vulnerable, have these lifesaving devices in their homes.”

Residents in Oak Cliff who need smoke alarms can register online at RedCross.org/NTXHomesMadeSafer to schedule their appointment. Those unable to register online can call 800-733-2767 to make an appointment.

Installations will occur on Saturday, October 21, when dozens of Red Cross volunteers will go out in small groups to homes in Oak Cliff to install smoke alarms and provide a 20-minute home fire safety visit. Volunteers and firefighters will 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.

“Most of us don’t realize we have just two minutes to escape a home fire, which is the nation’s most frequent disaster,” said Michael Silberman, Red Cross DFW Metro East Chapter Board Member. “Thanks to Red Cross volunteers, hundreds of homes will have new smoke alarms, and Dallas families will have a detailed escape plan.”

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY: To help stay safe in the event of a home fire, place smoke alarms on each level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas. Test alarms monthly and change the batteries at least once a year if your model requires it. Create a home fire escape plan with at least two ways to exit every room in your home. Practice your plan until everyone in your household can get out of your home in less than two minutes.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Those who want to give back to the Oak Cliff community can sign up here to volunteer during the October 21 Sound the Alarm event. No prior experience is needed — training will be provided for installing smoke alarms and sharing fire safety information.

Can’t join the event? You can also help by donating to the Red Cross here to help people prepare for, respond to and recover from home fires.

OAK CLIFF EVENT PART OF NATIONAL CAMPAIGN: Local Sound the Alarm events like this one in Dallas are a critical part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, which has helped save at least 1,928 lives since launching in October 2014. Volunteers and local partners have installed more than 14,450 free smoke alarms in the DFW Metro East Chapter and made more than 6,800 households safer since the program’s inception.

The DFW Metro East Chapter serves Collin, Dallas, Ellis, Grayson, Kaufman, Navarro and Rockwall counties.To learn more about the campaign and how you can get involved, visit redcross.org/homefires.

This work is made possible thanks to generous financial donations from regional partners: B.J. Coffman, State Farm, Lehigh Hanson, Alcon Foundation, The Apartment Association of Greater Dallas, Highmark Residential, and Toyota Industries Commercial Finance.

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 redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.