MOULTRIE, Ga. — The American Red Cross asks everyone to help Sound the Alarm in Moultrie and be part of the nationwide Red Cross effort to help reduce the number of deaths and injuries from home fires.

The Red Cross of Southwest Georgia invites the public to join the Sound the Alarm home fire safety and smoke alarm installation event at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 24, at Moultrie First Baptist Church. Participating partners working with the Red Cross include the Moultrie Fire Department.

“Home fires are the biggest disaster threat we face, killing seven people in this country every day,” said Andy Brubaker, executive director of the Red Cross’s Southwest Georgia chapter. “Here in Colquitt County we responded to 18 home fires so far this fiscal year. Please help us Sound the Alarm by volunteering to install smoke alarms in your community, making a financial contribution, or taking steps to protect your own family from home fires.”

The Red Cross responds to nearly 64,000 disasters a year, the majority of which are home fires, according to a press release from the charity. Home fires represent a significant threat to communities, which is why the Red Cross launched the nationwide Home Fire Campaign and rallied an army of volunteers, donors, and partners to canvass high-risk neighborhoods, install free smoke alarms, replace batteries in existing alarms and help families create escape plans.