Dexter residents can receive free smoke alarms from the Red Cross

DEXTER — The American Red Cross of Maine and the Dexter Fire Department  are teaming up to make town residents safer by installing free smoke alarms in their homes, helping them create escape plans and providing other fire safety tips.

Dexter residents can make an appointment for free smoke alarm installation by calling the Red Cross at 207-874-1192 and choosing Option 3 or by visiting SoundTheAlarm.org/Maine. We will follow up with you to perform the installations on Sunday, March 1.

Home fires kill an average of seven people each day in the United States. Working smoke alarms reduce the risk of death by half and having an escape plan further improves the odds.

The Dexter event is part of a national campaign launched by the Red Cross in 2014 to reduce home fire deaths. So far, the Red Cross and its partners have installed nearly 2 million free smoke alarms. This work has saved at least 715 lives – including those of 11 Mainers.

To volunteer for this event, contact Kristen Simas, the Red Cross senior disaster program manager in Penobscot County, at 207-631-8038 or Kristen.simas@redcross.org.