The Allentown Fire Department, the American Red Cross and an Eagle Scout candidate are partnering on a “Sound the Alarm” event in Allentown on Saturday, September 25.

The plan is to install more than 400 lifesaving smoke alarms across the city and help families formulate escape plans, so they’ll know how to react when a fire alarm sounds in the middle of the night.

Jacob Wehr, a senior at Notre Dame High School and son of retired Allentown Fire Chief Jim Wehr, is coordinating the event for his Eagle Scout project.

Volunteers are asked to report to West End Fire Station at 2145 Turner Street at 8:30 a.m.  From there they will be canvassing neighborhoods, installing free smoke alarms, replacing batteries in existing alarms and helping families create escape plans.

Volunteers are asked to sign-up at https://volunteerconnection.redcross.org/?nd=vms_registration_attendance_manager&return_jid=65229537&registration_id=16311386

 Free smoke alarm installations by the volunteer teams will take place until 2 p.m. installing 10-year lithium battery powered smoke alarms.  Previous efforts in the city have resulted in the installation of some 600-new smoke alarms.

“Functional smoke detectors save lives,” said Allentown Fire Chief Efrain Agosto.  “I want to thank Jacob for partnering with the fire department and the Red Cross to lead this effort. Smoke detectors are easy to install and maintain. Installing 400 smoke alarms means that a lot of lives are less at risk in a fire.”

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.

Information provided to TVL by:
Mike Moore
Communications Manager
Mayor’s Office
435 Hamilton Street
Allentown, PA 18101
Mike.Moore@allentownpa.gov
http://www.AllentownPA.gov

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