The American Red Cross reports that on average, seven people die each day in house fires in the United States.
Red Cross volunteers and partners will be canvassing Rochester neighborhoods this Saturday, installing hundreds of free smoke alarms and educating families about a fire escape plan.
Regional communications manager Dan Hartman said it's called "Sound the Alarm," and it’s part of the overall Home Fire Campaign launched by the Red Cross in 2014 to reduce fire deaths.
Since then, he said the effort has saved over 550 lives nationwide, including 21 in western and central New York.
“We're available 24/7, and by installing these smoke alarms, we're helping to keep families safe," he said. “It's a huge effort. We'll be visiting probably a couple hundred homes, and installing hundreds of free smoke alarms. They're the 10-year smoke alarms. Also as part of that, we provide some education, so we'll sit down with the family and go over an escape plan in the event of a fire, in addition to a meeting place outside."
The national goal is to install 100,000 free smoke alarms in cities with a high risk of home fires.
Hartman said the initiative is funded through donations, and the Red Cross is always looking for volunteers to help families in the aftermath of a home fire.
For more information, go to www.soundthealarm.org/wcny