The American Red Cross is in need of volunteers to install smoke alarms in homes for free in the Denver metro region beginning this weekend. The Sound The Alarm campaign aims to install 900 smoke alarms, to reach 600 households and engage 300 volunteers in the Mile High area.
Want to help? Call 303-777-7492 between 4pm & 7pm on Wednesday, April 18 to talk to volunteers from the Red Cross about when you can join a team and help install life-saving smoke detectors in other people's homes. If you want to sign up outside those hours, visit the Red Cross website.
Starting this Saturday, April 21, volunteers will start in Englewood. The following Saturday, April 28, volunteers will make their way to homes in Aurora. The last day for the campaign is on Saturday, May 5. Groups will install smoke alarms in both Arvada and Adams County.
"The more that we get out in the community, the more partnerships that we can form and build. The more smoke alarms we can install, the more homes we can go visit. But really at the crux of our campaign we need people. We need people to be mobilized to conduct the service and to be able to help out in the community," said American Red Cross Disaster Program Manager Katie Fisk.
Students in the Fire Emergency Response Administration (FERA) program at Metro State University are involved in the Sound The Alarm campaign. Metro State partners with the American Red Cross to help make this smoke alarm project possible.
"You don't realize how important they are especially in today's day and age with the construction materials that they use. Fires burn a little bit faster and the earlier that you can get out of your residence and the earlier you are warned to get out of your residence the better chance you have," said Kevin Vincel, Metro State student and South Adams County Fire Department Fire Chief.
The Red Cross is looking for three types of volunteers:
- Smoke detector installers
- Home escape plan educators
- Someone to document the installation process
You will be responsible for the following tasks:
- Canvass at-risk neighborhoods
- Install free smoke alarms
- Replace batteries in existing alarms
- Provide fire prevention and safety education
You must be 18 years old to volunteer. If you are ages 16-18, you must have an adult with you to volunteer.
Denver7 is hosting a call center on Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. You can call 303-777-7492 to sign up and volunteer your time. If you want to sign up outside those hours, visit the Red Cross website.
