Media contact: Keith Paul
Regional Communications Director
keith.paul@redcross.org | 702-400-7680

What: Dixie Power employees will kick off the Sound the Alarm event and then go into St. George neighborhoods to install free smoke alarms and conduct home fire safety visits.

When: Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 12:30 p.m.
Where: Dixie Power, 3071 S. River Rd., St. George

ST. GEORGE, Utah (Oct. 12, 2026) — More than 500 St. George-area families have signed up for free home fire safety visits Tuesday, Oct. 13, when Dixie Power employees will volunteer to install more than 1,000 smoke alarms through the American Red Cross of Utah’s Sound the Alarm initiative.

Dixie Power employees will conduct home visits to install free smoke alarms, share fire safety information and help families create escape plans for everyone in the home, including pets. Red Cross staff and volunteers will also support the event. Homes that cannot be served Tuesday will be referred to the Red Cross for follow-up visits.

“A home fire can spread incredibly fast, leaving families very little time to escape,” said Benjamin Donner, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Central and Southern Utah Chapter. “Having Dixie Power employees out in the community installing smoke alarms and helping families prepare could make all the difference when a fire starts.”

A Commitment to Community Service
Community involvement is a longstanding priority for Dixie Power. The cooperative supports local nonprofits through its Operation Round-Up program, and employees participate in volunteer projects across Southern Utah, including an annual companywide day of service. Dixie Power will also hold its annual three-day Red Cross of Utah blood drive Oct. 26–28.

“We take pride in giving back to the communities we serve,” said Steve Young, Dixie Power Communications Manager. “Whether we’re helping families prepare for home fires, hosting blood drives or supporting local projects, we are working to make our community better.”

Red Cross Responds to Home Fires Across Utah
Home fires are the nation’s most frequent disaster. So far this year, Red Cross volunteers have responded to 130 home fires across Utah and helped 624 people. In 2025, they responded to 154 home fires and assisted 728 people. Since 2020, volunteers have responded to 1,137 home fires and helped 5,235 people.

The Red Cross of Utah works with fire departments and community partners to install free smoke alarms and share fire safety information. Volunteers installed more than 2,000 free smoke alarms in Utah homes in 2025. Sound the Alarm is part of the nationwide Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, launched in 2014 to reduce home fire deaths and injuries.

Be Ready If a Fire Starts
Working smoke alarms can reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by about 60%, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Families may have less than two minutes to escape once a fire starts, making early warning and a practiced escape plan essential. The Red Cross recommends these steps:

• Install and Test Smoke Alarms: Place alarms on every level of the home, including inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. Test them monthly and replace alarms that are 10 years old or older.
• Create a Home Fire Escape Plan: Identify two ways out and choose a safe meeting place outside.
• Practice Twice a Year: Make sure everyone knows how to escape, including children and older adults. Plan for people with disabilities and account for pets.
• Get Out and Stay Out: If a fire starts, leave immediately, stay outside and call 911 from a safe location. Never go back inside a burning home.

The Red Cross of Utah offers free smoke alarm installations and home fire safety visits. To schedule an appointment or learn more, visit SoundTheAlarm.org/Utah.

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.