Firefighters & Red Cross Team Up to Save Lives Through Home Fire Campaign

Every day, Red Cross volunteers have the honor of standing alongside members of the fire service to serve our neighbors. Together, we’ve been there to help educate our communities about fire safety. Together, we’ve been quick to collaborate when a family is in need of help after a fire. And now, we’ve started to work together and canvass our communities to install life-saving smoke alarms.

In October 2014, a nationwide Home Fire Campaign was launched to reduce deaths and injuries from home fires by 25 percent over the next several years through education efforts and the installation of new smoke alarms. The campaign was created in collaboration with a broad array of supporters from the fire sector including the IAFC, IAFF, NVFC, NASFM, USFA and NFPA. Across the country, we’ve seen local Boy Scout troops, Air Force cadets, local church congregations, and members of service fraternities and sororities join other community members to help their neighbors through the Home Fire Campaign. 

During National Fire Prevention Week, we want to recognize our fire service partners for their tremendous support of the Home Fire Campaign. Together we have already saved 26 lives and installed more than 125,000 smoke alarms in nearly 2,400 cities and towns. In September alone:

• A family of 11, including a 2-month-old child, was alerted to a fire in the middle of night and safely escaped thanks to the alarm installation and education provided by the New Orleans Fire Department and Red Cross volunteers.
• Media reports that the father of two children in Clarksville, TN, was awakened thanks to a new smoke alarm that had been installed the previous day during a community blitz led by the Clarksville Fire Department, Tennessee Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Red Cross. He was able to safely escape his burning home.

These successes are only possible because of the support and contributions of thousands of local fire departments and other community partners. To keep this momentum and save even more lives we will need even more local fire departments to get involved.

In Georgia, Albany Fire Chief Ron Rowe saw the first life saved from the Home Fire Campaign and strongly encourages other departments to join the effort. “Partner up in your community with different agencies, especially if you have a chapter of the Red Cross, and put this type of program in place to reduce those injuries and deaths,” said Rowe. “This program is going to make a huge impact in our community.”

In Ohio, Columbus Fire Chief David Whiting credits teamwork with helping to make the community safer. “The Columbus Division of Fire was introduced to the Home Fire Campaign in 2014 when we had our first smoke alarm drive,” said Whiting. “Since then, we have major drives every other month. The partnership has been very successful and continues to grow as we provide education and install smoke alarms to our at-risk population. We have also trained firefighters to provide fire safety education through the Pillowcase Project and trained more than 300 children. The collaboration has allowed us to better protect and prepare our community for disasters and emergencies. Most recently, we’ve launched a statewide initiative to build off this success and further reduce fire fatalities in Ohio.”

There are many ways local fire departments can help support campaign efforts in their communities. Here are just a few to consider:

• Share your expertise and help conduct a community risk assessment
• Jointly plan canvassing events
• Conduct home visits to install alarms and educate residents with Red Cross volunteers and community partners
• Work together to educate youth about fire safety and prevention
• Find ways to help spread the word about fire safety in your community

The USFA reports that more than 1,700 civilian home-fire fatalities have been reported by the news media this year. Bending the curve to reduce fire deaths and injuries won’t happen overnight. We encourage you to reach out to your local Red Cross to create a plan for how to move forward in your community.

Reducing fire deaths and injuries by 25 percent is well beyond the means of any single organization. As the USFA says “Fire is everyone’s fight,” and we will continue to rely on the strengths and skills we all bring to the table to be successful.

ZACH CAHALAN is the Director, Major Preparedness Initiatives, for the American Red Cross.