Smoke Alarms Save Lives: Red Cross Installs Free Alarms Just In Time For The Holidays. - 11/04/25
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.
Smoke alarms save lives: Red Cross installs free alarms just in time for the holidays.
Join us this Saturday in Maywood Park and Parkrose Neighborhoods for our National Sound the Alarm event
[Portland, OR November 4, 2025] On November 8, volunteers with the American Red Cross will be installing FREE smoke alarms as part of the Sound the Alarm/Home Fire Campaign, which has helped save more 2,500 lives since launching in October 2014.
“Most people don’t realize they only have two minutes to escape a home fire — and that smoke alarms need to be replaced every 10 years,” says Red Cross Cascades CEO Priscilla Fuentes. “A working smoke alarm can cut your risk of death by half.”
Home fires increase by an average of 30% over the holidays as more people spend time at home and cook for family and friends. On average, Red Cross volunteers in Oregon and SW Washington respond to 120 fires in November and December alone. Now’s the time to make sure alarms are working.
WHAT: Sound the Alarm kickoff with remarks and volunteer training, followed by smoke alarm
Installations at homes in the community.
WHERE: Prescott Elementary School, 10410 NE Prescott St., Portland OR
WHEN: November 8, 2025. Welcome rally begins at 9:30 am. Installations start at 10:30 am.
WHO: Red Cross Cascades CEO Priscilla Funtes
Red Cross volunteers
Homeowners
Sign up for your free smoke alarm at redcross.org/cascades
VISUALS: Volunteers installing smoke alarms and educating local families.
B-roll. Sample smoke alarm installation can be found here and here.
Background: Learn more about the Sound the Alarm Event HERE
About Sound the Alarm:
This Sound the Alarm event is part of a national Red Cross initiative to install 50,000 free smoke alarms with partners in more than 50 at-risk communities across the country. Sound the Alarm events are a critical part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, which has helped save 2,508 lives since launching in October 2014, including 24 here in the Cascades Region.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides 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 that depends 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.