By Los Angeles Region CEO, Jarrett Barrios
| Today, I am thrilled to deliver some exciting updates and announcements surrounding our Home Fire Campaign. Recently, it was brought to my attention that, since October 2014, across the country, we have been able to save 215 lives! This is absolutely incredible news! Of course, this could never have been accomplished without the dedication and hard work of all of our Red Cross volunteers. So firstly, I would like to say, thank you, to every Home Fire Campaign volunteer. The numbers speak for themselves— you are saving lives!
The success of this campaign has been somewhat overwhelming. In fact, by going door-to-door and canvassing vulnerable communities across the nation, our volunteers have been able to install more than 744,000 free smoke alarms, replace the batteries in countless more and, develop 263,000 fire escape plans to help parents and children get out safely in the event a fire should start in their home. 
Since we’ve had so much success, we’ve decided to take this campaign to a whole new level to save even more lives. By continuing to hold regular Home Fire Campaigns, between now and October 2017, nation-wide, we are set to install our 1,000,000th free smoke alarm! In order to accomplish this incredible feat, locally in the Los Angeles Region, we will be participating in a smoke alarm installation blitz! From September 30th to October 15th, together with our partners, we plan to install 100,000 more free smoke alarms across 100 major U.S. cities. Of course, as Los Angelenos, we will be playing a leading role in this nation-wide installation blitz. In all, it is estimated that 35,000 volunteers will come together over 15 days to visit more than 40,000 homes. Personally, I am grateful that we have such a strong base of volunteers to count on and help us accomplish this nearly unbelievable goal. The best part is, that sometime during those two weeks, we will be installing our 1,000,000th free smoke alarm!
One mystery remains. Where will the 1,000,000th smoke alarm installation take place? Montana, Michigan, or perhaps in our own back yard, in a vulnerable community right here in LA!
All I know is that when we started the Home Fire Campaign, we had no idea we how far our volunteers would take it. Now, with almost 1,000,000 free smoke alarms installed and so many lives saved, we are on the threshold of making this into something bigger. I say, why stop at 1,000,000 smoke alarms. I think, that especially with the help of all our amazing volunteers, we can work together to install even more!
Thank you all for being an essential part of the success of our Home Fire Campaign. With your help, I am truly looking forward to saving more lives!
For information about being safe from home fires or the Home Fire Campaign, click here.
