Volunteering to Sound the Alarm in Ashe County!

Thirty-one Blue Ridge Energy employees from various offices donated 180 community service hours to partner with the American Red Cross on Sound the Alarm: a community service project to install free smoke alarms and educate households on fire safety to help prevent tragedies.

A total of 134 smoke alarms were installed in 54 homes across Ashe County, along with a154 individuals educated on home fire prevention and safety. Blue Ridge employees received training from the American Red Cross, with some installing smoke alarms, others educating family members and yet others ensuring paperwork was completed with home installation.

Blue Ridge Energy employees are given 16 hours of community service time annually to volunteer in local communities served by the cooperative.

Every day, home fires are the cause of seven deaths, 30 people suffering injuries and $7 billion in property damage. Sound the Alarm is helping ensure smoke alarms are installed in homes across the country and recipients receive home fire prevention training. Blue Ridge Energy was pleased to be able to partner with the American Red Cross and provide this important service to Ashe County recipients.

Alleghany Operations Manager John Evans discussing fire safety with an Ashe County recipient of a free smoke alarm from the American Red Cross Sound the Alarm project.

Engineering Manager Ralph Seamon installing smoke alarm in recipient’s home.

Group shot of Blue Ridge Energy employees volunteering for Sound the Alarm, an American Red Cross project to save lives with placements of free smoke alarms and home fire prevention training.