The Red Cross of Georgia will look to set the record for the highest number of smoke alarms installed in a single day during more than a dozen Home Fire Campaigns Saturday, Oct. 15.
According to the Red Cross, someone dies in a home fire seven times a day in the United States. When a fire starts, there may be as little as two minutes to escape a burning home before it’s too late to get out.
Georgia’s Red Cross responds to more home fires, than any other Red Cross Region.
In 2015 Georgia’s Red Cross responded to 4,036 home fires, including 1,643 home fires in metro Atlanta alone. Since Jan. 1, there have been 77 deaths due to home fire in Georgia.
To combat these tragic statistics, the Red Cross has launched a nationwide campaign to reduce the number of deaths and injuries due to home fires by 25 percent by the end of 2019.
“We’re grateful for the support of so many local communities, volunteers and partners who are working with us to save lives through the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign in Georgia,” said Terri Badour, CEO, American Red Cross of Georgia. “October is our biggest push, ever, and we’re in it together to do something about the tragedy of home fire deaths that are largely preventable.”
On Oct. 15, Red Cross workers here and statewide will be joining with local fire departments and community groups to visit neighborhoods at high risk for fires. Locally, the Red Cross and community groups will be installing smoke alarms in the Porterdale area.
Those visits include educating people about fire safety through door-to-door visits and installation of free smoke alarms in homes that need them.
The Red Cross urges all Georgia residents to keep their families safe by testing their smoke alarms and practicing their escape drill.
"Each year, more than 100 Georgia citizens lose their lives in fires," said Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph Hudgens. “Many of these fatalities occur in homes without smoke alarms. We are grateful to all who are making a difference through the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign.”
