Volunteers install smoke alarms for Phoenix families

PHOENIX, Ariz. (KSAZ) - A group of volunteers hit the pavement Saturday going door-to-door in hopes of making homes in one Phoenix neighborhood safer.

Members of Phoenix Fire say they want to be there before disaster strikes and hopefully to prevent it from happening at all.

"We're a very proactive not a reactive fire department, so we do everything we can to connect with our community to make sure that the people we serve not only are we there when the lights come on but we're there before that happens," said Rob McDade with Phoenix Fire Department.

Saturday dozens of volunteers from the Red Cross, city officials, Phoenix firefighters and community leaders took it upon themselves to go door-to-door to deliver and install smoke alarms to families in need.

"We just hope for a 'yes, please come in, check our alarms and install if necessary,' that's what we're after," said Mel Miller, a volunteer with the Red Cross.

The canvasing took place all day around the neighborhood of the Irene Lopez School on 7th Street and Broadway.

"It's very important for us to reach these neighborhoods," says McDade. "The stats back us up. These are neighborhoods where we see a lot more house fires, older homes with multiple people living in them."

Phoenix Fire Captain Rob McDade says it's an amazing feeling helping others to be prepared.

The mission has been going on for more than 10 years, but the thank you's from the community never get old.

"The reactions that we get are awesome," explained McDade. "They can't believe that we have a fire department that supports them when they didn't call 9-1-1, they didn't ask for help. It's overwhelming."