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Yahoo
15-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Volunteers needed to install free smoke alarms during Red Cross Sound the Alarm event in Stewartville
Apr. 14—ROCHESTER — The American Red Cross serving Southern Minnesota will install free smoke alarms and provide home fire prevention and safety education for residents in Stewartville during a Sound the Alarm event on Saturday, May 3. "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," said Melanie Tschida, executive director of Red Cross serving Southern Minnesota, in a press release Sound the Alarm smoke alarm installation events are a critical part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign which aims to reduce the number of deaths from home fires. The Home Fire Campaign has helped save 2,284 lives since its launch in October 2014 due to working smoke alarms in homes. Those who want to participate in this Sound the Alarm event can register at . No prior experience is needed — training will be provided for installing smoke alarms and sharing fire safety information. Local residents who need a smoke alarm can call 612-460-3674 or visit to schedule an appointment for a free smoke alarm installation during this Red Cross Sound the Alarm event or at any time, year-round. During short home visits, Red Cross volunteers and partners will also 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. "Sound the Alarm is a rewarding way to give back and directly help local families," added Tschida. "It's a day of coming together to support one another, especially those most vulnerable to home fires."
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
American Red Cross to give out free smoke alarms. Why they're targeting a part of Erie
An agency dedicated to assisting victims of disasters is rounding up Erie residents and volunteers for a program early next month to get smoke alarms into city homes in need. Members of the American Red Cross Northwestern Pennsylvania Chapter and others will spend the afternoon on April 4 installing free smoke alarms in the homes of Erie residents who live in the 16503 zip code area, which the Red Cross said is the area with the highest rate of Red Cross fire responses in northwestern Pennsylvania. Groups will spend roughly 20 minutes at each home, installing alarms and sharing 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, according to the Red Cross. Erie Bureau of Fire officials said they will also have a presence during the April 4 event. Those interested in participating in the event are encouraged to sign up for an appointment for a free smoke alarm installation by calling 814-240-7667. Those interested in volunteering are asked to visit Please enable Javascript to view this content. The program is part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, which the Red Cross said has helped to save at least 2,284 lives since launching in October 2014. The area of Erie targeted for the April 4 initiative covers a portion of the city's east side roughly between State Street and Downing Avenue, from East Sixth to East 26th streets. Some notable fires have occurred in that area in recent years, including a June 2024 fire in the 400 block of East 10th Street that destroyed three homes and heavily damaged a fourth. The Red Cross said it assisted four families, consisting of nine adults and 16 children, following the fires. The Red Cross states that working smoke alarms cut the risk of death by 50%. A spokeswoman for the agency noted in an email that, as of mid-March, more people have died in home fires in Pennsylvania in 2025 than in any other U.S. State. According to information on the U.S. Fire Administration's website, there have been 53 civilian fatalities in fires in the state so far this year. The agency gathers the information through daily internet searches of U.S. media reports, according to information on the website. Four of the fatalities occurred locally in Millcreek Township. Robert Powell, 67, died in a Jan. 23 fire at his mobile home at 1270 Patlin Court; Jerome Wilson, 75, died in a Feb. 9 fire at his residence at 521 Zephyr Ave.; and Collin Pennell, 20, and Stephon Burdette, 19, died in a March 9 fire at a mobile home at 2730 Ganzer Lane. The causes of the fires on Patlin Court and Zephyr Avenue have been ruled as undetermined, according to Millcreek Township police. The Ganzer Lane fire remains under investigation. The April 4 event is the latest effort in the Erie region to get smoke alarms in homes that don't have them. The Erie Bureau of Fire has given away thousands of smoke detectors over the past decade that it secured through federal grants and donations. It most recently distributed 3,400 combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors that it received in 2021 through a federal grant and local match. Don Sauer, the city fire bureau's chief fire inspector, said the bureau has run out of detectors but is looking into applying for a grant to obtain more. In Greene Township, the Kuhl Hose Co. is continuing to distribute smoke detectors purchased through a portion of the township's American Rescue Plan funding. The department has distributed over 3,000 of the 3,600 detectors purchased, Chief Don Erbin Jr. said. Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@ Follow him on X @ETNhahn. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Free smoke alarms will be given away by American Red Cross
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Red Cross urges residents to test smoke alarms as daylight saving time begins
(WTAJ) — As clocks spring forward this weekend, the American Red Cross is reminding residents to check a critical safety device in their homes: smoke alarms. Daylight saving time begins Sunday, March 9, and the Red Cross encourages everyone to test their smoke alarms when they turn their clocks forward. Properly working alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half, according to the organization. Over the past year, Red Cross volunteers responded to more than 1,500 home fires in Pennsylvania, assisting over 6,100 people. Nationwide, home fires make up the majority of the 65,000 disasters the Red Cross responds to each year. Residents are advised to install smoke alarms on every level of their home and inside bedrooms, replace alarms older than 10 years, and practice a two-minute home fire escape plan with all household members. The Red Cross also provides free smoke alarms and installation assistance to those in need through its Home Fire Campaign. For more information or to request assistance, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Red Cross urging you to test your smoke alarms as clocks change
The American Red Cross is encouraging you to test your their smoke alarms to make sure the devices are working as you turn the clocks forward of daylight saving time on Sunday. 'Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half as you only have about two minutes to safely get out,' Jorge Martinez, CEO of the American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania, said in a release. 'Every second counts when there's a home fire and the sooner an alarm alerts you to a fire, the sooner you can get to a safer place. When daylight saving time starts this weekend, test your smoke alarms to help prevent a tragedy in your home.' Over the past year, local Red Cross volunteers responded to help more than 6,100 people across Pennsylvania affected by more than 1,500 home fires, which account for most of the about 65,000 disasters that organization responds to annually across the country. The organization suggests: • Installing smoke alarms on every level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas. • Replacing smoke alarms that are 10 years or older. Components such as sensors can become less sensitive over time. Follow your alarm's manufacturer instructions. • Practicing your two-minute home fire escape plan. Make sure everyone in your household can get out in less than two minutes — the amount of time you may have to escape a burning home before it's too late. • Including at least two ways to get out of every room and selecting a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbor's home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone can meet. If you can't afford to buy smoke alarms or are physically unable to install one, the Red Cross may be able to help. Go to for more information. Since October 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, along with community partners, has saved at least 2,284 lives by educating families about fire safety, helping them create escape plans and installing free smoke alarms in high-risk areas across the country. To learn more about the campaign and how to get involved, go to
