Red Cross to Install Free Smoke Alarms in Clarion, Armstrong, Venango Counties on September 21

EYT Media

EYT Media

Published September 19, 2019 4:21 am
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FOXBURG, Pa. – The American Red Cross will be canvassing Armstrong, Clarion, and Venango Counties to install free smoke alarms and make homes safer during a Sound the Alarm event being held on Saturday, September 21, 2019.

Part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign to reduce fire deaths and injuries, volunteers and partners will be visiting neighborhoods by appointment throughout the 3-county area install free smoke alarms, replace batteries in existing alarms, and help families create home fire escape plans.

Services are free and available for all, however, to have an alarm installed, residents must first call 814-271-3060 to schedule an appointment. Callers are advised to include their name, address, and phone number.

Volunteers and partners will gather at Allegheny-Clarion Elementary School in Foxburg for Kickoff/Training at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 21. Community Installs will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

“Having a working smoke alarm increases your chance of safely evacuating a burning home by 50%,” noted Mary Rogers, American Red Cross West Central Executive Director.

“Unfortunately, many homes lack smoke alarms. Our goal is to provide residents with the tools they need to hopefully reduce the risk of fire and, should one occur, the tools and knowledge to safely evacuate the burning building.”

Since October 2014, the American Red Cross has installed over 1.9 million free smoke alarms and has educated the residents of more than 793,000 households on the importance of having and practicing home fire escape plans. To date, 638 lives have been saved nationwide due to our efforts.

“We often hear from people who say, ‘I already have smoke alarms,’” Rogers added.

“Yet, when you ask them, they tell you the smoke alarms are 20 or 30 years old. Most people don’t realize that smoke alarms are only able to detect smoke for around 10 years! It’s important that people not only have smoke alarms but that they have smoke alarms that work and are not outdated.”

Our Sound the Alarm events are made possible by the generous support of our financial sponsors, including our national sponsors (Airbnb, Delta Airlines, FEMA, and Nissan), regional sponsors (Erie Insurance and UGI), and local sponsors (Millers Mutual, Central Pennsylvania Community Foundation, Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania, Dominion Energy, Emerson, FedEx Ground, Giant, Millers Mutual, MSA-The Safety Company, Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Reliance Bank, Sheetz, State Farm, TransCanada Charitable Foundation, The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, The United Way of Lawrence County, UPMC/UPMC Health Plan, and Ward Trucking).

Rogers concluded, “We are so very grateful to our volunteers, financial sponsors, fire departments, and community and corporate partners who always answer the call to help at our Sound the Alarm events. Their efforts will no doubt one day save lives!”

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