Volunteers and leaders from the American Red Cross of Greater Houston and the Houston Fire Department (HFD) will be going door-to-door in historic Third Ward this Saturday, July 15, to install free 10-year lithium ion battery smoke alarms and educate residents about fire safety. It marks the first installation in which the Red Cross and HFD are teaming up, with the goal of working together to install 3,000 free smoke alarms in Houston homes over the next 12 months.

“Working smoke alarms are your first line of defense in a fire and when combined with an escape plan can double your chances of surviving,” said Sam Pena, Fire Chief, City of Houston. “A major goal of the Houston Fire Department is to install as many smoke alarms and talk to as many residents about fire safety as possible. Our partnership with the Red Cross is an extension of our on-going efforts to protect the citizens of Houston.”

The HFD launched the Get Alarmed Houston program in December 2001, challenging the private industry to donate and help with installing smoke alarms. Their goal is to not only make the City of Houston the safest city in Texas, but the safest city in the world as it pertains to fire related accidents and fire deaths. The American Red Cross launched the national Home Fire Campaign in 2014 with the goal of reducing fire deaths and injuries by 25 percent by 2020.

Both the HFD and Red Cross programs have been made possible with the help of donors, corporations, community partners and thousands of volunteers.

“Every eight minutes, the Red Cross responds to a disaster – and the vast majority of these are home fires,” said David Brady, Chief Executive Officer, American Red Cross of the Texas Gulf Coast. “So much can be done to reduce those statistics through safety education and the installation of smoke alarms in homes that need them. It’s an honor to partner with the Houston Fire Department in our shared dedication toward creating a safer community.”

EVENT DETAILS:

Date: Saturday, July 15

Location (Primary): Unity National Bank, 2602 Blodgett Street, Houston, TX 77004

Timeline:

8 a.m. - 9 a.m. Sign-in/Breakfast

9 a.m. Press Conference – to include HFD Chief Sam Pena, Red Cross CEO David Brady, CenterPoint Energy Executive Vice President Tracy Bridges, Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee

9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Training/safety briefing for volunteers

10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Volunteers install smoke alarms in homes throughout Emancipation Avenue, Wheeler Ave, Ennis and Southmore streets

12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Volunteers return, have lunch; closing remarks by leadership

If you are interested in volunteering to install smoke alarms for future dates, please call 713-313-1608 or visit www.redcross.org.