CARTERSVILLE, Ga. (March 5, 2026)  On Saturday, March 7, the American Red Cross of Northwest Georgia, Bartow County Fire & Emergency Services, United Way, Team Rubicon and volunteers will install around 200 free smoke alarms for families at risk of home fires as part of our Sound the Alarm event. From March 1-28, as part of the campaign, the Red Cross of Georgia aims to install 3,800 alarms during various events throughout the state.

 

WHAT:  Sound the Alarm kickoff with remarks and volunteer training, followed by smoke alarm installations in area homes where volunteer teams will also discuss home fire safety with families.

 

WHY: The Red Cross responds to around 60,000 disasters a year, the majority of which are home fires. Home fires claim seven lives a day in the U.S., yet many homes have nonworking or no smoke alarms, which can cut the chance of dying in half. Our 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.

 

WHERE:

 

Bartow County Event

Bartow County Fire & Emergency Services

5433 Covenant Drive

Cartersville, GA 30121

WHEN:

 

Saturday, March 7, 2026

8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

 

 

WHO/SPEAKERS AVAILABLE:

 

Tina Dean, Executive Director, Red Cross of Northwest Georgia

 

This work is made possible thanks to generous financial donations from the community, including the Georgia Sound the Alarm sponsors State Farm, FEMA, Georgia Power, Northside Hospital, Primerica, Veritiv, Southwire, Navicent Health Foundation and Walton EMC.

 

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and proives comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40%

of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization thatdepends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media

Press Release