Red Cross to Install 375 Free Smoke Alarms in LaGrange

Every day, seven Americans die in home fires, but a simple smoke alarm can make all the difference between tragedy and survival.

On March 28, the American Red Cross and LaGrange Fire Department will team up to make the Hillside neighborhood safer. Volunteers and firefighters will knock on doors, install free smoke alarms, and help families create escape plans that could save their lives.

"We're going to be in the Hillside neighborhood installing free smoke alarms and helping families come up with a fire escape plan, so that we can make families safer if they have a home fire," said Holly Long, executive director of the Central Midwest Georgia Chapter of the American Red Cross. The goal is ambitious: 375 smoke detectors in 150 homes, protecting 375 people in a single day.

The best part? No experience needed. The Red Cross provides everything—tools, supplies, and training—starting at 10 a.m. Volunteers learn exactly how to install alarms and create escape plans before heading into the community. The event runs until 3 p.m., rain or shine.

The Ripple Effect

This annual Sound the Alarm initiative has created waves of safety across America since 2014. The Red Cross has installed 3.5 million smoke alarms nationwide, saving an estimated 2,500 lives. Each alarm represents a family that might avoid the number one disaster the Red Cross responds to: home fires.

The impact extends beyond installation day. When fires do happen, Red Cross volunteers respond immediately, providing emergency assistance and connecting families with caseworkers. They offer disaster mental health services, spiritual care, and ongoing support to help families rebuild their lives.

The smoke alarms cost residents nothing. Red Cross and its partners cover every expense, removing financial barriers that might leave families vulnerable. Every volunteer hour multiplies into years of protection for neighbors who might not otherwise have working alarms.

This year's LaGrange event continues a tradition of choosing different communities across the Central Midwest Georgia Chapter, ensuring safety reaches families wherever they need it most.

Anyone can join the lifesaving effort by visiting soundthealarm.org/georgia—because the best time to prevent a tragedy is before it starts.