Media contact: Keith Paul
Regional Communications Director
keith.paul@redcross.org | 702-400-7680
OGDEN, Utah (Nov. 20, 2025) — The American Red Cross of Utah today announced a generous $10,000 donation from Bechtel National Inc., to support the Home Fire Campaign, a vital initiative aimed at reducing home fire-related deaths and injuries. This contribution will help the Red Cross provide 400 free smoke alarms, fire safety education and emergency preparedness resources to families across Northern Utah.
“Bechtel’s commitment to community safety and resilience is truly inspiring,” said Michael Smauldon, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Northern Utah Chapter. “This generous donation will allow us to expand our Home Fire Campaign and help more families stay safe from the devastating effects of home fires.”
Bechtel: A Legacy of Community Support
Bechtel, a global leader in engineering, construction and project management, is dedicated to making a positive impact in the communities where it operates. Through its work in the cities of Ogden and Roy, Utah, the company is supporting initiatives to promote education, disaster recovery, workforce development and quality of life improvements in Northern Utah.
“Bechtel is proud to support the Red Cross of Utah in its mission to protect families and build safer communities,” said Ron Hink, a Bechtel Principal Vice President and Sentinel Project Director in Ogden. “The Home Fire Campaign aligns with our values of safety, resilience and giving back to the communities where we work and live.”
The Home Fire Campaign: Saving Lives Through Prevention
Home fires are the most common disaster in the United States, claiming thousands of lives each year. Since its launch in 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign has saved more than 2,500 lives nationwide by providing free smoke alarms, fire safety education and escape planning assistance.
In Utah, Red Cross volunteers have installed more than 2,000 smoke alarms in the past year alone, helping families prepare for and prevent home fire tragedies. Working smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by about 60%, yet many homes lack this critical protection.
“Most people don’t realize they may have as little as two minutes to escape a home fire,” Smauldon explained. “Thanks to Bechtel’s support, we can continue to provide lifesaving resources and education to families across Utah.”
Get Involved: Protect Your Family Today
The Red Cross of Utah encourages residents to take advantage of free smoke alarm installations and fire safety resources through the Home Fire Campaign. To schedule a free home visit, go to SoundTheAlarm.org/Utah. For more information about the Home Fire Campaign or to learn how you can support this lifesaving initiative, visit redcross.org/homefires.
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 follow us on social media.
About Bechtel
Bechtel is a trusted engineering, construction, and project management partner to industry and government. Since 1898, Bechtel has helped customers complete more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents. Bechtel’s team in Ogden, Utah, is working closely with its customer, Northrop Grumman, to help design and construct the launch infrastructure component of Sentinel, the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation ground-based nuclear deterrent system. This weapons system will replace the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile system as the land-based leg of the U.S. nuclear deterrent. Bechtel’s project team has a mission focused on designing and delivering constructable solutions for launch infrastructure that will meet the Air Force’s requirements.
