On Saturday, Jan. 20, City of Mountain View Fire Department members participated in the American Red Cross of the Silicon Valley “Sound the Alarm” event at the Sunset Estates Mobile Home Park. The American Red Cross partnered with the City of Mountain View to install free smoke alarms in approximately 40 residences throughout the mobile home park.

Smoke alarms were installed in the living areas and hallways of homes, often replacing expired and malfunctioning units. According to the National Fire Protection Association, roughly three out of five fire deaths happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. More than one-third of home fire deaths result from fires in which no smoke alarms are present. The risk of dying in a home fire is cut in half in homes with working smoke alarms.

Before leaving the residences, teams helped residents create escape plans and shared fire safety information. More information about the Sound the Alarm program can be found at https://www.redcross.org/sound-the-alarm.html.

If you wish to have a smoke alarm installed in your residence, contact the City of Mountain View Fire Department Public Information Officer, Robert Maitland, at 650-903-6825 or email robert.maitland@mountainview.gov.