NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ASSIST program has been temporarily. Please check back soon for updated information about plans to reactivate our ASSIST initiative in the near future.

The Alexandria Smoke Alarm Safety Installation Support Taskforce (ASSIST) is a program designed by the Alexandria Fire Department, Friendship

Firehouse, and the American Red Cross to proactively install smoke alarms throughout the City of Alexandria. ASSIST operates every third Saturday of every other month by installing smoke alarms in the homes of Alexandrians in an effort to make the City safer against fire.

"Fire can spread rapidly through your home, leaving you as little as one or two minutes to escape safely once the smoke alarms sound,” said Fire Chief Corey Smedley. “Smoke alarms are an important part of a home fire escape plan and can save lives during a fire. With the help of our partners at American Red Cross and Volunteer Alexandria, the Alexandria Fire Department's ASSIST program will continue to make an effort to educate residents on fire prevention and make sure they have working fire alarms.”

 The ASSIST team also works with Volunteer Alexandria to get more volunteers involved in the program and to help install smoke alarms  in the homes of the residents of Alexandria. During installations, volunteers and members of the fire department also educate residents on fire prevention and encourage them to make an emergency plan with their families.

“One of the important goals of Volunteer Alexandria’s Emergency Preparedness Program is to educate and train the community in ways they can prepare themselves for any disaster,” said David Chamowitz, Volunteer Alexandria Board President. “Training and volunteer opportunities are available with us for the public to learn more and raise awareness about emergency preparedness to help our communities be more resilient in any kind of disaster.”

American Red Cross volunteers who wish to participate in the ASSIST program or find volunteer opportunities in their areas should visit the American Red Cross Volunteer Connection website to sign up.

For more information about Volunteer Alexandria’s Emergency Preparedness outreach and education program, e-mail emergencyresponse@volunteeeralexandria.org, call 703.836.2176 or visit www.volunteeralexandria.org.

For media inquiries and other information, contact Firefighter Ashley Whisonant, Community Outreach Coordinator, at ashley.whisonant@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.5217.

• From 2009 to 2013, smoke alarms sounded in more than half (53%) of the home fires reported to U.S. fire departments.
• Three of every five home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
• No smoke alarms were present in more than one-third (38%) of the home fire deaths.
• One of every five (21%) of the home fire deaths, smoke alarms were present but didn't sound.
• In reported home fires in which the smoke alarms were present but didn't operate, almost half (46%) of the smoke alarms had missing or disconnected batteries. Nuisance alarms were the leading reason for disconnected smoke alarms.

*Source: National Fire Protection Association

Due to COVID-19, the ASSIST program has been placed on hold. For questions and additional information, contact Firefighter Ashley Whisonant at ashley.whisonant@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.5217. For more about the Fire Department's community outreach initiatives, visit the Community Outreach Unit.

Since March 2017, the ASSIST program members have installed more than 462 smoke alarms in the following neighborhoods in the City of Alexandria:

• Old Town (2 installation dates)
• Wakefield-Tarleton
• Hume Springs
• Seminary West
• Warwick Village
• Strawberry Hill
• Lincolnia Hills-Heywood Glen
• Lynhaven Gateway (2 installation dates)
• Brookville Seminary Valley
• Del Ray (2 installation dates)
• Quaker Village
• West Seminary Hills

Is your neighborhood listed above and you weren't home on the day of installation? Request a smoke alarm installation from the Alexandria Fire Department, or visit  American Red Cross to learn more about the National Capital Region Home Fire Campaign and request a smoke alarm.