For more than a decade, the Atlantic City Fire Department (ACFD) has partnered with the American Red Cross to bring critical fire safety resources directly into Atlantic City neighborhoods through an annual home fire safety canvass. With the exception of one year during the COVID-19 pandemic, the initiative has been conducted every year with a single objective: reducing fire deaths and injuries by ensuring residents have working smoke alarms in their homes.
This year’s canvass on December 6, 2025 deployed 10 teams throughout Atlantic City, each consisting of four to five American Red Cross volunteers paired with an Atlantic City firefighter. Teams went door-to-door checking existing smoke alarms, replacing expired units, and installing new alarms in homes where they were missing. All services were provided free of charge to residents.
The event was jointly coordinated by Atlantic City Fire Chief Scott Evans; Rachel M. Lippoff, Executive Director of the Southern New Jersey American Red Cross; and Jim Eden, Community Disaster Program Manager for the American Red Cross New Jersey Region. The Atlantic City Boys & Girls Club served as the host site for participating teams.
“What you are going to go out and do today is absolutely, 100% going to save lives,” Chief Evans told participants prior to the canvass. “I know that for a fact. We have gotten calls to fires where this program has installed smoke alarms and it has saved lives.”
The partnership between the Atlantic City Fire Department and the American Red Cross remains one of the city’s most effective community risk-reduction initiatives. By combining trained firefighters, dedicated volunteers, and strong community support, the annual canvass helps ensure Atlantic City residents are better protected from home fire hazards year-round.
