City of Hartford and American Red Cross Unite for 9/11 Day of Service

HARTFORD, CT – In honor of the National Day of Service and Remembrance, the City of Hartford Fire Department and the American Red Cross in Connecticut are once again joining forces to protect local families through free smoke alarm installations and fire safety education.

On Thursday, September 11, volunteers will visit homes in Hartford neighborhoods to install smoke alarms and share important fire safety information. This effort is part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign initiative aimed at reducing fire-related deaths and injuries, especially from home fires, which are the most common disaster the Red Cross responds to across the country. Since the program’s launch, the Red Cross has installed more than 6,500 smoke alarms in Hartford, making our community safer and better prepared in the event of an emergency.

“On this National Day of Service and Remembrance, we honor the heroes of 9/11 by working together to protect our community,” said Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam. “The safety of our families is our highest priority, and this partnership with the American Red Cross and the Hartford Fire Department is a powerful example of what we can achieve when we unite for a common cause. This is a meaningful way to serve our neighbors and ensure that every household has the tools and knowledge to stay safe from home fires.”

“Our Special Services Unit and our Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will be working side by side with the Red Cross and all of the volunteers in an effort to keep our citizens safe in the City of Hartford. This collaboration is more than just about installing smoke alarms, it reflects the strong commitment we have to protecting every neighborhood, block by block. Hartford families have already benefited from thousands of alarms installed through this program, and each visit is an opportunity to build relationships, strengthen community resilience, and ensure our residents know we are here for them not only during emergencies, but every single day.”

“A working smoke alarm can be the difference between survival and tragedy when a home fire strikes,” said Richard Branigan, CEO of the American Red Cross Connecticut and Rhode Island Region. “We’re proud to continue our partnership with the Hartford Fire Department on this meaningful day of service, ensuring residents – especially those most vulnerable – have access to lifesaving resources.”

Through this campaign, volunteers will empower families with fire safety knowledge and help them build personalized escape plans to use in case a fire breaks out in their home. This event is dedicated to helping Hartford residents – you can learn more or schedule an appointment by visiting redcross.org/ctprepare.