Your Red Cross Update

By Quinn Aftab

The American Red Cross is widely known to respond to disasters caused by home fires across the nation – but what about preventative action?

As part of the Home Fire Campaign, the Red Cross does not only seek to aid communities in home fire recovery, but also in the necessary steps that lead to home fire prevention. By installing free smoke alarms in residential neighborhoods and educating communities about home fire safety, Red Cross chapters ensure a holistic approach to protection is enacted. As of today, the Red Cross, alongside local fire departments and community partners, has installed 1,128 smoke alarms in 459 homes, creating a safer space for 1,502 residents across the Northern Coastal California Region.

The national Red Cross Sound the Alarm program plays a major role in reducing the number of deaths from home fires. As part of the larger Home Fire Campaign, American Red Cross staff and volunteers spearheading Sound the Alarm events do not only install free smoke alarms nationwide, but also compassionately aid in creating individualized escape plans and sharing local fire safety information. Since October of 2014, the Home Fire Campaign has helped save over 2,640 lives due to the installments of working smoke alarms in community homes. Since this date, locally, in the Northern California Coastal Region, volunteers and partners have installed more than 62,900 smoke alarms, made over 23,000 households safer and even saved 34 lives. 

Here’s this year’s local chapter numbers that have contributed to our overall totals across the region.

Bay Area Chapter

One hundred thirty-six homes were made safer across our Bay Area Chapter’s Sound the Alarm event, where 384 smoke alarms were installed, with protection provided for 438 residents. 

“Sound the Alarm is always a powerful reminder of what’s possible when our community shows up with a shared purpose,” said Justin Mueller, Bay Area Chapter executive director and regional chief executive officer for the Northern California Coastal Region. “Throughout this signature period, volunteers, partners and neighbors across the Bay Area came together to help make homes safer and strengthen emergency preparedness. We’re incredibly grateful for the commitment and compassion that made this work possible.” 

Heart of the Valley Chapter

In the Heart of the Valley Chapter, similar initiatives have succeeded, where 44 homes were made safer after Sound the Alarm events in Merced. Here, Red Cross volunteers installed a total of 144 alarms, providing safety for 163 residents in home fire prevention.  

 “The Heart of the Valley Chapter is dedicated to creating a lasting impact within our communities,” reflected Felicia Woolfolk, chief executive officer of the Heart of the Valley Chapter. “Sound the Alarm goes beyond numbers; it’s about leading through service and turning purpose into action.” 

North Bay Chapter

Moreover, Red Cross volunteers, community partners, and local fire departments have further contributed to the safety of our residents in the North Bay Chapter. Thanks to the hard work of these members and partners, the North Bay has made 91 homes safer, installed 257 smoke alarms for free in homes and aided 213 total residents in fire safety guidance.  

“We are deeply grateful to the North Bay Chapter volunteers and community partners who stand with the Red Cross year-round,” emphasized North Bay Chapter Chief Executive Officer Vincent Valenzuela. “Your support of Sound the Alarm reflects a shared commitment to protecting our neighbors and building safer, more resilient communities.” 

Silicon Valley Chapter

Identical sentiments have been shared from Reagen Lund, chief executive officer of the Silicon Valley Chapter.

“With steadfast dedication, the volunteers of the American Red Cross Silicon Valley Chapter show up, rain or shine, making our neighbors safer and our communities more resilient long before disaster strikes,” said Reagan. “Sound the Alarm is more than an initiative; it’s a lifesaving promise that preparation today protects lives tomorrow. We are deeply grateful for those who answer the call and turn compassion into action.”

These comments have been reflected impactfully in the statistics of the Silicon Valley Chapter’s efforts in their Sound the Alarm events, where 57 homes have been made safer, 156 total smoke alarms have been installed, and 215 total residents have been protected.

Central Coast Chapter

In Monterey County of the Central Coast Chapter in the Northern California Coastal Region, 121 homes were made safe, with 187 total smoke alarms installed in residential homes.  

“Sound the Alarm is a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when our community comes together,” remarked Central Coast Chapter Chief Executive Officer Michele Averill. “I am so grateful for the volunteers, donors and partners who dedicated their time and energy to help protect lives across our community in the Central Coast. Their compassion and commitment truly make a difference for the families we serve.”

Her words are especially notable as this program has assisted the most residents this year out of the five chapters. In total, 434 residents in the Central Coast Chapter have been made safer through the meaningful help of our volunteers, staff members and community partners, alongside the efforts of local fire departments.

Thank You

This work is only made possible through the dedication of Red Cross volunteers and the generosity of donors. A special thank you to each and every volunteer who supported either as an installer, documenter, educator, driver, feeder, coordinator and in any other capacity. We also want to give our immense appreciation to this year’s sponsors: State Farm, FEMA, PG&E, Halter Project, Arista, Chevron, Robert and Virginia Stanton Endowment Community for Monterey County, Michael and Gloria Ipson, Pacific Credit Union, American Red Cross Bay Area Board of Directors and Silicon Valley Board of Directors.

View all the photos from this year’s signature period at our Flickr page.