New Bedford holds smoke alarm safety event

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — Officials from the American Red Cross of Massachusetts joined the New Bedford Fire Department and Mayor Jon Mitchell for a “Sound the Alarm” event Saturday morning.

The event was part of a home safety initiative to promote public awareness of the importance of smoke alarms, and began with a ceremony at the McCoy Recreation Center.

After the ceremony, volunteers from the Red Cross and fire department offered free smoke alarms installations to residents across the city.

“Every day seven people die in home fires,” the Red Cross said. “Together, we can change that.”