On October 21, 2023, volunteers with the American Red Cross and local organizations, including local fire departments, came together for a Sound the Alarm event in Grays Harbor County.

Neighborhoods in both Aberdeen and Hoquiam were chosen for the event due to their home fire risk. Grays Harbor County has the second highest risk of home fires in the state of Washington, and, according to American Red Cross Northwest Region Preparedness Manager Hannah Christen, many of the homes in the chosen neighborhoods are more than 100 years old.

Volunteers went into 57 homes in the area, installing 143 smoke alarms in a matter of hours. Some of those smoke alarms went into Wendy Southard’s home. The timing, she says, was meaningful.

“We recently had a fire in our kitchen,” she said. “We were able to get it out before it made any damage.”

Even without this recent experience, Wendy knows how home fires can impact lives. Her own mother was affected by a fire several years ago.

“Her house caught on fire,” Wendy said, “She and her husband were able to get out, and everybody was safe.”

So, Wendy knows all too well how a home fire can change a life. Having brand new working smoke alarms installed in her home by the American Red Cross helped to bring some peace of mind.

“It just means a lot to us that they’re here,” she said.

Wendy was one of 164 people who were served during this Sound the Alarm event. Events like this help to make families safer by installing free smoke alarms in their homes, educating them about home fire safety, and helping them develop home fire escape plans.

To learn more about our Home Fire Campaign and Sound the Alarm events, click here.