Seventy-five Red Cross volunteers and members of Santa Maria Fire Department recently installed 145 free smoke alarms for families during a Sound the Alarm home fire safety.

Red Cross volunteers, some wearing signature red t-shirts or red and white vests, pose for a photo with firefighters. (Courtesy Photo)
Red Cross volunteers and local firefighters helped make homes in the community safer. (Courtesy Photo)

“We are grateful to everyone who supported this campaign’s Sound the Alarm event to serve our neighbors and provide them with the tools to be safer from home fires,” said Tony Briggs, Pacific Coast Chapter executive director and regional CEO. “We know that smoke alarms save lives.

“This weekend’s efforts will make a lasting difference to help save lives and protect those who are most vulnerable.”

Home fires are the nation’s most frequent disaster, including in Santa Barbara County where Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers respond to an average of 20 home fires a year.

The Sound the Alarm event is part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, which has helped save at least 2,030 lives — including 15 in Central California — since starting in October 2014. In Santa Maria on Feb. 24, volunteers served 168 residents and made 70 homes safer.

Red Cross volunteers and local partners have installed more than 13,700 free smoke alarms and made more than 4,000 households safer throughout the Tri-county Pacific Coast Chapter.

Community members can get involved by becoming a disaster services volunteer or making a financial donation to prepare, respond and help families recover from home fires. Residents are also urged to testing their smoke alarms monthly and practice their two-minute home fire escape plan.

If you need a smoke alarm, volunteers install free smoke alarms year-round by appointment. Learn more at SoundTheAlarm.org/CCR.