Austin firefighters, Red Cross install smoke alarms in high-risk neighborhood

Organizers of the “Sound the Alarm” event, which started in 2014, also performed home safety checks and helped residents craft fire escape plans.

More people in Austin now have working smoke detectors, thanks to a joint effort between the American Red Cross and the Austin Fire Department.

Volunteers and firefighters went door-to-door Saturday in the Walnut Creek neighborhood in North Austin as part of the Red Cross’ “Sound the Alarm” campaign. Their goal: install as many smoke alarms as possible, perform fire safety checks and educate residents on how to stay safe.

The Red Cross says the neighborhood was selected after seeing an increase in home fires in the area.

“We just want to make sure that we’re going door to door, listening to every single family and ensuring that they do have working smoke alarms,” said Delia Krippelz, Regional Communications Director for the American Red Cross Central & South Texas Region. “And if they don’t, we’ll happily install them and also check them.”

Fire officials say working smoke detectors are often the difference between life and death.

“Almost every fire that we go to where people get out safely is because of smoke detectors,” said Assistant Chief Thomas Vocke with the Austin Fire Department. “Anytime we’re in a nighttime response, the smoke detectors are the primary way folks are warned. It happens every week in the city where a life is saved with a smoke detector.”

In addition to installations, crews helped families create fire escape plans — something officials say is just as critical as having a working alarm.

“It’s important to have that quick escape plan, because you never know when you may need it,” Krippelz said. “Home fires don’t discriminate.”

Even with hundreds of alarms installed each year, fire officials say the need still remains high.

“We want to encourage folks to check your smoke detectors,” Vocke said. “If we don’t install one for you, make sure yours are working. We installed about a thousand last year, but we know there are thousands more in the city that need to be installed.”

If you need a smoke alarm, you can contact the American Red Cross or the Austin Fire Department for assistance.