Smoke alarms save lives: Free installations for Wisconsin residents in need as part of Red Cross home fire safety effort

Wisconsin residents in need can sign up for a free smoke alarm installation and home fire safety plan this May from the American Red Cross of Wisconsin and our partners. This includes focused community-wide events coming up in Milwaukee, Sun Prairie, La Crosse and Fond du Lac.

“Our goal is to save lives,” said Mark Thomas, Regional CEO and Southeast Wisconsin Chapter Executive Director, American Red Cross. “There has been a disturbing spike in home fires over the past two years. That’s why we want to make sure everyone has working smoke alarms, which can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half.”

Residents who need assistance can visit redcross.org/WIsmokealarms or call 888-376-4056 to schedule an appointment for a free smoke alarm installation this May. All Wisconsin residents in need are eligible for these free home fire safety resources.

During the 20-minute home visits, Red Cross volunteers and partners will also share information on the causes of home fires, how to prevent them, what to do if a fire starts and how to create an escape plan.

While home fire visits may be scheduled across the state, for May 2022 Red Cross teams and partners will also have focused events in communities and neighborhoods, as follows:

• Sun Prairie – Wednesday, May 11: click here for free alarms/home fire safety visit or call (608) 232-7468.
  
  
• La Crosse – Saturday, May 14: click here for free alarms/home fire safety visit or call (608) 232-7468.
  
  
• Milwaukee – Saturday, May 21: click here for free alarms/home fire safety visit or call (888) 376-4056. For Milwaukee volunteer opportunities on May 21, register to join a team here. (Many roles available; all training is easy and provided on-site.)
  
  
• Fond du Lac – Tuesday, May 24 & Wednesday, May 25: click here for free alarms/home fire safety visit or call (888) 376-4056.

Spanish language appointments and volunteer sign up are also available at ActivaTuAlarma.org.

Red Cross volunteers install a new smoke alarm during a “Sound the Alarm” event in 2019 in Menasha.

This work is made possible thanks to generous financial donations from regional partners such as QBE, Mercury Marine, United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County, Nicholas Family Foundation, Generac Power Systems, Brewers Community Foundation, Great Rivers United Way, Milwaukee Tool, Festival Foods and We Energies Foundation.

Additional community partners with this initiative include Milwaukee Fire Department, Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue, Sun Prairie Fire Department, La Crosse Fire Department, Basilica of St. Josaphat, Pete’s Fruit Market, El Rey, City of Fond du Lac Senior Center, Aging and Disability Resource Center, and Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee.