Volunteers Install Smoke Alarms In Berkeley's Carefree Section

BERKELEY, N.J. — Volunteers installed new smoke alarms May 7 in the Carefree section of Berkeley for a "Sound the Alarm" event. As volunteers set up smoke alarms, the Red Cross educated Holiday City residents on fire safety and home fire escape plans.

The purpose was to check smoke alarms and, if needed, install new ones. Sixty-two people volunteered, as did community partners such as Holiday City Carefree HOA, Manitou Park Fire Department and organizations and businesses who donated funds and who canvassed the community.

"Home fires kill more people in an average year than every other domestic natural disaster combined," said American Red Cross New Jersey Region CEO Rosie Taravella. "To combat these tragedies, in 2014, the American Red Cross launched the multi-year Home Fire Campaign in New Jersey and across the country to reduce deaths and injuries from home fires."

The campaign has helped save more than 580 lives nationally, including 18 in New Jersey, Taravella said.

Last year, the Red Cross responded to more than 900 disasters in New Jersey, mainly home fires, according to Ocean County Freeholder Virginia E. Haines.

"The Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors," Haines said. "This is their mission. Neighbors helping neighbors, this is something we can all get involved with."

Berkeley Mayor Carmen F. Amato encouraged people to take two steps in increasing their changes of surviving a home fire: test your smoke alarms and practice your family fire escape plan.

"You may have as little as two minutes to escape a burning home," Amato said. "Make sure everyone in your household knows the fire escape plan and how to get out of the home in less than two minutes."

The American Red Cross and volunteers are installing 100,000 free smoke alarms this spring for its "Sound the Alarm" program. They're holding events in more than 100 at-risk communities nationally from April 27 to May 12.

Click here to volunteer or donate.

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