The Dayton International Airport (DAY) is helping the American Red Cross reduce the number of home fire fatalities this April as part of the ongoing disaster relief fundraising campaign. All funds raised through this campaign will go directly to the American Red Cross.

“Supporting our local Red Cross chapter is one way we can help make our community safer,” said Terry Slaybaugh, director of Dayton International Airport. “Safety is a huge part of what we do at the airport, so it makes sense to extend that beyond our gates.”

The nationwide Home Fire Campaign rallies volunteers, donors, and partners to canvass high-risk neighborhoods, install free smoke alarms, replace batteries in existing alarms and help families create escape plans. During the Sound the Alarm initiative, the Dayton Area Chapter of the American Red Cross hopes to install 850 new smoke alarms in homes throughout the Dayton area from April 28 to May 13. To request a smoke alarm, visit soundthealarm.org/Dayton.

“Home fires are the biggest disaster threat we face, killing seven people in this country every day,” said Cory Paul, the Dayton Chapter Executive Director. “Here in Dayton, we responded to over 100 home fires so far this year.”

While the initial fundraising goal for this campaign is $5,000, the airport hopes passengers and residents will rally together to provide even more for disaster relief efforts in the coming months. Updates to the fundraiser will be available at www.RedCross.org/DAY and at Twitter.com/DAY_IntlAirport.