The American Red Cross is partnering with Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department to install life-saving smoke alarms during Sound the Alarm home fire safety event on Saturday, April 21st in the Minerva Drive area of Murfreesboro from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Red Cross volunteers along with firefighters from Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department, members of Olive Branch Church, Family Worship Center, and Belle Aire Baptist Church will be canvassing neighborhoods in Murfreesboro, installing free smoke alarms, replacing batteries in existing alarms, and helping families create escape plans.

"Sound the Alarm is a nationwide Red Cross effort to help reduce the number of deaths and injuries from home fires," said Kathy Ferrell, Executive Director. "We are incredibly grateful for the partnership with MFRD and community volunteers who are sharing their time to save lives."

"With 42 fire fatalities in the state of Tennessee this year between January and March 23, it is even more important to make sure our citizens are equipped with the correct number of working smoke alarms," said Fire Rescue Chief Mark Foulks. The State Fire Marshal's Office has on record 24 saves from smoke alarms in fire incidents throughout the state. "Having working smoke alarms in your home can cut your risk of fire death in half," Foulks added.

The Red Cross responds to nearly 64,000 disasters a year, the majority of which are home fires. Working smoke alarms in a home cut the risk of death by half, and having an escape plan further improves the odds of survival. The Red Cross wants to end these tragedies and save lives, the reason why the organization launched the Home Fire Campaign in 2014. To learn more about the Home Fire Campaign, visit www.redcross.org/heartoftn.

Sound the Alarm is proudly sponsored by International Paper, Thomas Lawrence Campbell, HCA Foundation, FedEx, CHI Memorial, Patricia and Rodes Hart, Sedgwick, UPS, and AutoZone.