Each spring, the American Red Cross of Western New York engages in a Sound the Alarm initiative that is part of its ongoing Home Fire Campaign.

Sound the Alarm is designed to make frontline communities and families safer by offering installation of up to four, free smoke alarms in homes that may be lacking them and providing fire safety education and family escape plans for residents of those homes.

The Western New York Regional Red Cross has selected Jamestown as the Signature City for this year’s Sound the Alarm initiative. With this event, the Red Cross is demonstrating its enduring commitment to Jamestown and Chautauqua County, showcasing a dedication to identifying equitable methods of assistance for the most vulnerable communities across its 27-county region. After analyzing data, the Red Cross has determined that Jamestown is disproportionately affected by home fires and is actively providing resources and volunteers to address this pressing issue.

A Sound the Alarm Day of action in Jamestown will be held on Saturday, March 23. Volunteers will gather at 8:30 a.m. at Milton J. Fletcher Elementary School, 301 Cole Ave., for brief instructions, and will then set out with a goal of installing 350 free smoke alarms in 90 identified homes. There are several ways you can contribute to making the community safer, such as volunteering to be an installation team member, informing the Red Cross if a home is need of free smoke alarms, or making a donation to support the significant costs associated with the Sound the Alarm event.

Visit www.soundthealarm.org/wny for more information, or to volunteer or request an alarm.