Boise Red Cross Needs Your Help Preventing House Fires

I'll never forget the night that changed my life. I was a freshman in high school, spending the night at a friend's trailer in Minnesota. After a night of movies and video games, we went to bed. A few hours later I was awakened by the sound of screaming. I remember thinking "I've never heard someone scream like that before." A blood-curdling painful, and terrible scream. Something inside of my head told me to get out of the trailer. Before I could even get my bearings, I heard another voice, this one crippled with fear " the house is on fire!"

Realizing what was happening, panic washed over my body. The air instantly turned to smoke invading my eyes and lungs. It was the first time in my life the thought of me dying entered my head. Within seconds I was outside on the street, still in my boxers when the firetruck pulled up. The trailer became fully engulfed in flames within minutes. I made it out; but my friend's younger sister was not as lucky.

The trailer did not have any smoke alarms installed. Maybe if it had, a life would have been saved. That's why when I heard the Red Cross is launching a Home fire campaign it hit home for me.

On April 27-28, the Red Cross of Idaho and its community partners will install free smoke alarms in hundreds of West Boise homes. Volunteers will help us canvas neighborhoods, install alarms, replace batteries in existing alarms and help families create fire escape plans.

KTVB reports the Red Cross is looking for as many as 200 volunteers to help install the detectors in homes. If you would like to volunteer sign up here.