A working smoke alarm cuts the risk of dying in a home fire by about 60%, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). And with New York reporting over 12,000 residential fires annually–often caused by faulty wiring in pre-war buildings, space heaters, or kitchen accidents in tight apartments–having one is crucial.
The good news? To keep New Yorkers safe, the FDNY, together with the American Red Cross, is once again offering free smoke detectors—along with free installation and education about home fire safety—to residents across all five boroughs through the Get Alarmed NYC program.
Since launching in 2015, more than 300,000 alarms have already been installed, including specialized ones for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. This year’s goal? Another 15,000. FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker stated:
We are here to remind New Yorkers about an important partnership we have had for more than 10 years that allows us to give away free smoke alarms to those who need them. October is Fire Prevention Month, but fire safety is a year-round activity, and it never expires. To that end, we’re constantly out in the field teaching people about fire safety.
🚨 How To Get Your Free Smoke Alarm In NYC
Getting your free, professionally installed smoke alarm is incredibly straightforward and only takes a minute:
- For most residents: Simply fill out this online form
- If you live in a NYCHA building: You are requested to call 718-707-7771 instead of using the form
Once you’ve applied, uniformed Red Cross volunteers will visit your home to install the device, completely free of charge. FDNY is also looking for volunteers to help install alarms citywide.
🔥 So remember: a fire fit is great (if you’re not from here, that’s NYC slang for a killer outfit) but a fire in your home…not so much.
You can see an announcement regarding the campaign below, which was made in front of a Manhattan apartment building where four people were critically injured in a fire earlier this year–another reminder of why these alarms matter: