Reflection on the Red Cross Sound The Alarm Event

On September 27th, FireRoots volunteers woke up bright and early to drive an hour to Modesto, California. We were here participating in an important volunteering event: Sound the Alarm by Red Cross. During this event, we would help replace fire alarms in mobile homes, a community that is often underserved. We would also work with them to create and practice an escape plan, as well as review general fire safety tips. 

While waiting for our cohort to arrive, we got to chow down on some complimentary donuts and even received free shirts! Once everyone had gotten settled, we were split into smaller groups, with some of us focused on replacing the alarms while others focused on education. We were instructed to place an alarm in each bedroom, as well as the hallway. The firefighters present also pointed out important tips. For example, smoke rises, meaning fire alarms should always be placed on a ceiling rather than adjacent to a floor. We were also warned not to place fire alarms in kitchens; though this may seem counter-intuitive, kitchen fire-alarms can be easily triggered by smoke from cooking. Equipped with this new information and advice, we set off for our respective houses!

During our event, we had the opportunity to speak with the houseowners, who were all extremely open to speaking about their past experiences. For example, one woman shared that she had just moved in, hence why her fire alarms had not been replaced yet. She and her husband also didn’t have a designated meeting place in case of a fire; it felt rewarding giving her guidance that could actually improve their safety. A different man we spoke with was much more prepared in case of a fire— many of his alarms were replaced in the past two years, and he even had fire and earthquake insurance. 

In total, we installed 81 fire alarms in 26 homes, showing just how large of an impact people can make when they band together. Later in our reflection meeting, volunteers shared their insight on the event. We also hoped that by participating in this event, we were able to mitigate the stigma surrounding Asian Americans. Typically, Asian Americans are portrayed as being detached from community service, so it felt important to show our commitment to helping others. Overall, this was incredibly insightful, giving us a better perspective to the challenges faced by different communities.

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-Written by Anna Zhao