SFD & Red Cross Partner for Hillyard Neighborhood Install Blitz

Jamie McIntyre, Community Risk Reduction Manager, 509.453.7058

Friday, October 6, 2023 at 2:48 p.m.

On Saturday, October 7, 2023, Spokane Fire Department (SFD) and volunteers with the American Red Cross will be visiting 500 homes in the Hillyard neighborhood offering to install free smoke and carbon monoxide alarms from 10am-3pm. The installations are part of Fire Prevention Month. 

“Since the Red Cross started the Home Fire Campaign in 2014, we’ve saved more than 1,414 lives across the country. We’re excited to continue offering this program to make our local neighborhoods safer” stated Ryan Rodin, Greater Inland Northwest Chapter of American Red Cross.

The smoke alarm installations are part of the Red Cross’ national “Sound the Alarm - Save a Life ” campaign. Red Cross will provide ionization sensor smoke alarms thanks to the generosity of their donors. 

"Spokane Fire Department's partnership with American Red Cross has allowed us to collectively visit and educate residents of thousands of homes in Spokane during the last ten years" stated Jamie McIntyre, Community Risk Reduction Manager, Spokane Fire Department. "We use data to inform our install outreach, focusing on areas that are at higher risk for residential fires" McIntyre continued.  

The installation campaign was made possible through funding from the FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety Grant (FY 21) and Lowe’s Home Improvement of North Spokane who generously partnered, offering alarms at a discounted rate, to collectively provide enough photoelectric sensor smoke alarms, and carbon monoxide alarms to install in over 100 high-fire risk homes.

According to the American Red Cross, every day, seven people die in home fires, most in homes that lack working smoke alarms. The Red Cross is doing everything it can to prevent these needless tragedies by having volunteers work alongside fire departments and other local groups, canvassing at-risk neighborhoods to install free smoke alarms, replacing batteries in existing alarms, educating families about fire prevention and safety, and fundraise for this lifesaving mission. These efforts have saved hundreds of lives and made hundreds of thousands of households safer.

Important safety messages about smoke alarms:

  • A closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire.
  • Install smoke alarms in every room used for sleeping, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement. Large homes may need extra smoke alarms. It is best to use interconnected smoke alarms. When one smoke alarm sounds they all sound.
  • Smoke rises to the highest point. Smoke alarms should be installed on the ceiling or high on a wall. Keep smoke alarms away from the kitchen to reduce false alarms. They should be at least 10 feet (3 meters) from the stove.
  • Test all smoke alarms at least once a month. Press the test button to be sure the alarm is working. 
  • Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old, or no longer respond when tested.
  • People who are hard of hearing or deaf can use special alarms. These alarms have strobe lights and bed shakers.
  • Smoke alarms are an important part of a home fire escape plan.
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