Media release from American Red Cross, Georgia Region:
The American Red Cross of Georgia is Sounding the Alarm once again on fire safety. This March, volunteers, staff and community partners will work together to educate residents on how to stay safe from fires with a goal of installing around 3,800 free smoke alarms across the state. Since the start of the Home Fire Campaign in 2014, the Red Cross has installed more than 3.2 million free smoke alarms nationwide and made more than 1.3 million households safer across the country.
The Red Cross is working in partnership with volunteers and fire departments across the state to ensure Georgia residents are ready to respond to a fire if one should happen in their home. Going door-to-door, the goal is to educate residents on what to do if there is a fire, install smoke alarms as needed, ensure all warning systems are working, and help residents develop an effective plan in case of an emergency.
This year’s Sound the Alarm campaign in Georgia is taking place from March 7 – 28 in chapters across the state. The first events will be held on Saturday, March 7, in Cartersville, Milledgeville and Riverdale.
The Red Cross responds to around 60,000 disasters annually, the majority of which are home fires. In 2025, Red Cross volunteers in Georgia responded to more than 2,500 single and multi-family home fires across the state. Additionally, more than 10,300 people were assisted because of those disasters.
On average, seven people die every day as a result of home fires and often these tragedies occur in homes without working smoke alarms. Data has shown that one of the most effective ways to combat these statistics is with a working smoke alarm; in fact, smoke alarms can cut the risk of death by half. Since launching in October 2014, the Home Fire Campaign has saved at least 2,552 lives, including 255 in Georgia.
WHAT YOU CAN DO Visit redcross.org/homefires for fire safety tips and free resources:
- Check the manufacturer’s date on the back of your smoke alarm and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for replacing the alarm and its batteries.
- Test your smoke alarms monthly. Change the batteries at least once a year if your model requires it.
- Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.
- Practice your home fire escape plan until everyone in your household can escape in two minutes or less. Include at least two ways to escape from every room in your home and select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone knows to meet.
Upcoming Georgia Sound the Alarm installation and fire safety education opportunities March 1 – 28:
Bartow County
March 7: 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Cartersville
Baldwin County
March 7: 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Milledgeville
Clayton County
March 7: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Riverdale
Bartow County
March 14: 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Cartersville
Muscogee County
March 14: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Columbus
Liberty County
March 14: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Hinesville
Rockdale County
March 21: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Conyers
Tift County
March 21: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Tifton
Walton County
March 21: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Loganville
Lanier County
March 28: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Lakeland
Troup County
March 28: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., LaGrange
Sign up at: Georgia Sound the Alarm Events
This work is made possible thanks to generous financial donations from the community, including the Georgia Sound the Alarm sponsors State Farm, FEMA, Georgia Power, Northside Hospital, Primerica, Veritiv, Southwire, Navicent Health Foundation and Walton EMC.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and proives comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40%
of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization thatdepends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
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