Red Cross Winter Fire Safety and Smoke Alarm Programs

The American Red Cross offers free smoke alarms with volunteer installation and fire-safety education through its Home Fire Campaign. Winter outreach under Sound the Alarm adds neighborhood canvassing, escape planning, and seasonal prevention tips. The Home Fire Campaign is a national program focused on in-home visits, alarm installation, and escape planning.

American Red Cross Tennessee reports more than 2,000 lives saved and over 3.1 million free smoke alarms installed, with 1.2 million households made safer. That scale makes winter a practical time to request help and review home habits.

How to request free smoke alarms

Residents can ask for up to three free 10-year lithium-battery smoke alarms. American Red Cross Kentucky Region explains in its home fire safety visit page that volunteers install the alarms and share fire-safety education. Requests go through a local Red Cross chapter or SoundTheAlarm.org.

The visit centers on prevention, not paperwork. Volunteers check placement needs, install alarms, and walk through basic escape steps. The benefit is the alarms, installation, and education together.

What happens at Sound the Alarm events

Sound the Alarm events bring volunteers into neighborhoods to install free alarms and create escape plans. American Red Cross Louisiana lists 2026 canvassing events including Baton Rouge on Oct. 24 and Dorchester on Nov.

14. Volunteers also share safety information during each visit. American Red Cross Georgia notes in its 10th-anniversary update that the national Home Fire Campaign began in October 2014.

Its goal is fewer home-fire deaths and injuries through visits, installation, and planning. Local events are one way that work reaches households.

Why winter raises fire risk

Heating is the second-leading cause of U.S. home fires, with December through February as the peak period. American Red Cross Kansas advises in its fire safety tips to keep items three feet from heat, never use an oven for warmth, and remember that space heaters cause most heating fires.

Holiday activity adds more risk. American Red Cross Michigan reports nearly 20% more home-fire responses in November and December, assisting about 40,000 people. Candles cause about 20 U.S.

home fires daily, with December as the peak month.

How to lower risk this week

Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire nearly in half, according to the American Red Cross. Alarms belong on every level and inside and outside bedrooms. Test alarms monthly and practice a two-way-out plan twice yearly.

Fire experts warn residents may have as little as two minutes to escape a burning home. Cooking is the leading cause of home fires, so never leave cooking unattended.

• Test each smoke alarm monthly.
• Practice a two-way-out escape plan twice yearly.
• Keep flammables away from stoves and heaters.
• Turn off stoves when leaving the kitchen.