As part of the American Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, the City of Newark and the Newark Department of Public Safety has partnered with the Red Cross to help reduce the number of home fire-related injuries and fatalities in Newark.
On Saturday (Today), members of the Newark Fire Division and volunteers with the Red Cross, Unified Vailsburg Services Organization, the Heart of Vailsburg Block Club Coalition and Gibraltar Bank will be going door-to-door in the Vailsburg neighborhood of Newark, offering free smoke alarm installations in homes that need them.
“Smoke alarms can cut the risk of death from a home fire in half,” said Fred H. Schlesinger, interim regional disaster officer, American Red Cross New Jersey Region. “The Red Cross is excited to continue to work with the City of Newark and our community partners to install free smoke alarms and bring potentially lifesaving fire safety information to Vailsburg residents.”
“We wholeheartedly welcome this partnership with the American Red Cross to ensure the safety of our Vailsburg residents,” Newark Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose said. “Providing free smoke alarms is a generous contribution to individuals and families in need of this invaluable home safety tool.”
Newark Fire Chief Rufus L. Jackson added, “The gifting and free installation of smoke alarms by The Red Cross is an excellent example of their commitment to the protection of Newark residents and property. We applaud their willingness to serve the Vailsburg community.”
During the July 8 event, volunteers will also be distributing fire safety information and talking to families about what they can do now to be prepared should a fire break out in their home.
Simple Steps Everyone Can Take to Save Lives
The Red Cross is urging everyone to take two simple steps that can save lives: check their existing smoke alarms and practice fire drills at home.
**There are several things families and individuals can do to increase their chances of surviving a fire:**
• If someone doesn’t have smoke alarms, install them. At a minimum, put one on every level of the home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. Local building codes vary, and there may be additional requirements where someone lives.
• If someone does have alarms, test them today. If they don’t work, replace them.
• Make sure that everyone in the family knows how to get out of every room and how to get out of the home in less than two minutes.
• Practice that plan. What’s the household’s escape time?