In partnership with the Savannah Fire Department, the American Red Cross of Southeast Georgia conducted fire safety education as part of the national Sound the Alarm initiative and installed smoke alarms during May in Avondale, a community in East Savannah.

On Saturday, July 31, a fire destroyed one of the homes where alarms were installed and residents had just recently learned about fire safety. Resident, Matthew Taylor, along with his roommate and dog, escaped the home unscathed.  According to Taylor, “the fire started from the outside of the house. When I opened the door, there was a wall of flames. I grabbed my dog and yelled to wake up my roommate and we got out, just in time. When the team came to teach us about fire safety, I learned that we only had 2 minutes to get out. I didn’t even think, I just acted, and it saved our lives.” Savannah Fire Captain Irving Nichols, Fire Engineer Darren Lampley, and Advanced Firefighter Logan Gutierrez were a part of the team that went into Mr. Taylor’s home during the Sound the Alarm event back in May. Board members including – Board Chair, Allan Galis (Hunter Maclean), Rick Jackson (Oglethorpe Mall), Len Tropea (City of Savannah), community volunteer Clayton Livingston, and a host of other volunteers were also present and participated in educating Avondale residents and installing alarms during the event.

Heath Lloyd, City of Savannah Assistant City Manager, and incoming Mission & Outreach Chair on the Southeast Chapter Board of Red Cross says, “We are proud of our partnership with Savannah Fire and the great work that is being done in neighborhoods throughout our City to save lives. We will be expanding these efforts and ask community leaders to reach out to Red Cross.”

The Red Cross responds to more home fires than any other type of disaster and, nationwide, home fires claim seven lives every day. The annual Sound the Alarm event aims to reduce the number of lives lost through home fires by installing free smoke alarms, creating escape plans, and sharing fire safety information with communities. Last year, the American Red Cross of Georgia responded to 2,689 single and multi-family home fires across the state. Additionally, 4,406 families were assisted as a result of those disasters. To learn more about Sound the Alarm initiative, visit https://www.redcross.org/sound-the-alarm.html.

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