Red Cross 'Home Fire Campaign' coming to Elkhart Saturday

Elkhart residents might get an unexpected knock on their door today. The American Red Cross is partnering with Elkhart Fire to help save lives.

The Red Cross has a Home Fire Campaign and its coming to Elkhart Saturday afternoon.

Elkhart Fire and community volunteers will help the red cross visit Elkhart neighborhoods to install free smoke alarms in homes that need them and teach people about how they can prepare should a fire break out in their home.

Seven times a day, someone in the U.S. dies in a fire. This campaign aims to reduce deaths and injuries from home fires by as much as 25 percent over the next few years.

Since it’s launch in 2014, they have installed more than a quarter of a million smoke alarms in homes nationwide.

Although they’re only visiting homes in Elkhart today, they want you and your family to know simple tips that can save your life in the event of a fire:

Make sure you have smoke alarms installed. At a minimum, put one on every level of the home, inside bedrooms and outside any sleeping areas.

If you have alarms, test them today. If they don’t work, replace them as soon as possible.

You and your family should have a fire escape plan. Do they know how to get out of the home in less than two minutes?

Once you have a plan in place, make sure you practice it. How long does it take to get out of your household?

They will begin knocking on doors at 12 P.M.