Red Cross volunteers install smoke detectors in Little Village homes

CHICAGO (WGN) — Volunteers hit the streets of Little Village to educate residents about fire safety and install smoke alarms for free.

The initiative was part of the Red Cross’ Sound the Alarm campaign which aims to reduce the threat of deadly fires in at-risk communities.

Ana Izaguirre heard about the program while attending church.

“I feel at ease when I step out to throw out the trash or go out to run an errand, I know that at least the kids can call me and say the alarm is going off,” she said.

Red Cross volunteers installed smoke detectors in 60 Little Village homes.

This Sound the Alarm initiative began in 2014. House fires are the disaster the organization responds to most often. It says smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a fire in half.

Since launching Sound the Alarm, the Red Cross credits it with saving more than 2,400 lives nationwide and 45 lives in Illinois.

“There’s some folks who tell us they didn’t have the means to be able to get one or sometimes they might have functional needs that they need help with, and they always appreciate someone coming out,” Red Cross’ Lynn Colunga said.

Installations were completed in about 30 minutes, giving peace of mind to dozens of families.