Montgomery County, Red Cross, Partner to Provide Free Smoke Detectors
“Sound the Alarm” Campaign Helps Families Stay Safe from Home Fires
FONDA, NY —Montgomery County officials are pleased to partner with the American Red Cross to host a “Sound the Alarm” campaign to prevent home fires by providing free smoke detectors to families in need.
The campaign will kick off at 5: 30 p.m. Thursday at 2 Thomas St. in Amsterdam. Officials will install smoke detectors at Habitat for Humanity’s current project home. County Emergency Services Director Jeffery Kaczor, County Sheriff Jeffery T. Smith, and Legislative Chairman Robert A. Purtell lead the campaign and coordinate with local fire departments to distribute and install smoke detectors county-wide. The goal is to provide three functioning smoke detectors to every household in need.“I’m proud our team has taken steps to integrate this program into our community,” said County Executive Matthew L. Ossenfort. “Safety is always a top priority, and this will ensure residents have the necessary tools to detect a home fire in the event of an emergency.”
“With the help of the Montgomery County Legislature, we are constantly working to make Montgomery County a safer place to live,” said Purtell. “Initiating the “Sound the Alarm” program and getting smoke detectors into as many homes as possible was one of my goals for the Legislature in 2023.”
“We are proud to partner with all of these agencies and provide this valuable service to our community,” said Kaczor. “By working together, we can ensure that all of our residents have access to the life-saving protection of smoke detectors.”
“Smoke detectors are a vital lifesaving component for every home. Installation and education of these detectors will save lives,” said Smith. “Working together on safety initiatives makes us stronger as a community. I applaud all entities involved for teaming up on this very important safety endeavor.”
Disaster Program Manager at the American Red Cross Anna Maison said, “Most of
us don’t realize we have just two minutes to escape a home fire, which is the nation’s most frequent disaster. That’s why the American Red Cross is preparing families to act quickly through our Home Fire Campaign. Since launching the campaign in 2014, we’ve helped save at least 1,583 lives across the country, including 72 lives right here in Eastern New York, by installing Free Smoke Alarms and helping families create escape plans.”
Residents interested in receiving a free smoke detector can contact the American Red Cross at [email protected] or call 518.694.5121 to schedule an installation appointment.
Residents are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to increase home safety.
