Red Cross volunteers installing 1,000 smoke alarms in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Thousands of Red Cross volunteers will fan out across the country this weekend to install 100,000 free smoke alarms. One thousand of those will go to people right here in Utah.

Volunteers plan to install smoke alarms in South Salt Lake on May 2^nd and West Valley City on May 12^th. Their efforts are part of a national campaign called “Sound the Alarm” aimed at stopping home fires and preventing deaths.

Red Cross CEO Heidi Ruster says three out of every five home fire deaths happen in homes that don’t have working smoke alarms. The goal here in Utah, she says, is to educate families about fire safety and preparedness. In addition to the smoke alarms, volunteers will also replace batteries in existing alarms and help families create fire escape plans.

Volunteers are still needed to help in Utah. You’ll need to preregister here.

These smoke alarm installation events are part of a multi-year Red Cross Home Fire Campaign that launched in 2014. So far, it’s saved 416 lives and volunteers have installed more than 1.2 million smoke alarms.