By: Gordon Williams, Northwest Region Volunteer

Volunteers are currently preparing to take to the streets of Aberdeen and Hoquiam, Washington, on October 21, 2023, for a life-saving Red Cross Sound the Alarm (STA) event. Their goal is to install smoke alarms in at least 100 homes that don't have them.

Sound the Alarm is the action element of the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign that began in 2014. Its goal is to reduce death and injury from fires in the home by equipping dwellings with smoke detectors. In fact, smoke alarms are a proven lifesaver when homes catch fire. Home fires claim around 2,200 lives each year, and two-thirds of them are in dwellings that lack an alarm. Having a working smoke alarm can cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half.

Statistics compiled by the Red Cross show the overwhelming success of the Home Fire Campaign. The metric here is “lives saved” – where the occupants of a home survived a fire because a working smoke alarm, installed by the Red Cross, alerted them in time. At last count, these alarms have saved 1,928 lives.

The Home Fire Campaign is a year-around effort, carried out by Red Cross chapters all over the country. Aberdeen and Hoquiam in Grays Harbor County were two neighborhoods chosen for a Sound the Alarm event this fall to coincide with Fire Prevention Week. Grays Harbor County is part of the Red Cross Northwest Region, which includes Washington and northern Idaho.

Hannah Christen, Preparedness Manager for the region, explains that the two cities were picked because they feature large areas of poverty with many older buildings. Home fires occur more often in areas of poverty, where buildings are likely to be older and run down. Christen says the October 21 event will focus on neighborhoods where many of the dwellings are 100 or more years old.

Another reason for picking Grays Harbor County, says Christen, is the close working relationship between the Red Cross and local fire departments.

“We've been working with the Aberdeen Fire Department for many years,” she says.

Christen explains that the October event will have two parts. Starting on October 14, when teams of volunteers will fan out, seeking homes in need of smoke alarms.

“October 21st will be the day of the big show,” Christen says.

That is when volunteer teams will do the actual installation of smoke alarms. In addition to installing alarms, Red Cross volunteers will spend time in each home providing lessons in fire prevention.

The search is on now for at least 60 volunteers for the event. Christen stresses that no prior experience is needed. Tools and training for installing the alarms and presenting the home fire safety information will be provided. Local firefighters will accompany the installation teams, providing whatever assistance is
required. To volunteer, click here.

If you live in the area and want to have a smoke alarm installed in your home, click here and follow the prompts to request a visit.

If all goes according to plan, 100 homes will finish up October with new smoke alarms installed and residents will have an increased knowledge of fire prevention techniques. Christen says having taken part in this life-preserving effort, Aberdeen and Hoquiam will emerge with a greater feeling of community.

“It’s a day of coming together to support one another,” she says. “A working smoke alarm can be the difference between survival and tragedy, and as a community we can help our neighbors stay safe by ensuring they have these lifesaving devices.”

Join us to help save lives. Sign up to be a part of our Sound the Alarm event!