Red Cross volunteers install ‘gift of life’ smoke alarms in outer East Portland

Discover why so many volunteers met at a Parkrose school in support of the Red Cross ‘Sound the Alarm’, and what they accomplished …

Welcoming volunteers to the Red Cross Cascades Region’s “Sound the Alarm” day, it’s their costumed dog mascot.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Individuals, couples, and groups began arriving at Prescott Elementary School in Parkrose, starting about 9 a.m. on Saturday, November 8, to volunteer at the “Sound the Alarm” project by the Red Cross of the Cascades Region.

Telling about the event is Red Cross Cascades Region Regional Communications Manager Isabel Anderson.

“At ‘Sound the Alarm’ events like this one, we gather volunteers and staff members to go out and install free smoke alarms in the homes of area residents,” explained Red Cross Cascades Region Regional Communications Manager Isabel Anderson.

“It’s really critical that we do that right now because, as the weather starts cooling down, people are turning on space heaters, and cooking more indoors – making fires are more likely to happen,” she added.

Briefing a group of volunteers is Red Cross Cascades Region “Super Volunteer” Roman Perez.

In November and December, she pointed out, the relief agency responds to help out people who have been affected by around 120 home fires. “This is a 30% increase from the usual number of fires during the rest of the year – so it’s really important that people get their smoke alarms installed now,” Anderson told East Portland News.

The goal of the 35 volunteers and staff that morning was to install free smoke alarms in forty homes – from the City of Maywood Park and Parkrose, south to Centennial and Powellhurst-Gilbert – all of which had requested to be included in the program.

Volunteer crew leader Roman Perez shows how to activate the ’10-year-life” battery inside a smoke alarm.

“You only have about two minutes to get out of your house safely, after a fire gets started,” warned Anderson.

“We want to give families their best chance to survive with working smoke alarms. The smoke alarms that we put in include an already-installed 10-year battery.”

Off they go, volunteers heading out to install smoke alarms across outer East Portland.

Smoke alarm installation events take place year-’round, said Anderson. “If a person missed this event, and they wish to have a smoke alarm installed, they can request a free installation by going to our online webpage: CLICK HERE.”

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