Every year in Los Angeles, preventable home fires claim lives, displace families, and cause millions of dollars in damage. Yet one of the simplest and most effective tools for saving lives—a working smoke alarm—is still missing from too many at-risk homes. In 2026, MySafe:LA is doubling down on changing that.

Thanks to renewed support from FEMA’s Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) initiative, along with generous assistance from The Home Depot, ABC7, and long-time partner Kidde, our smoke alarm outreach and installation program is entering its most ambitious year yet. Working side-by-side with firefighters from the Los Angeles Fire Department, MySafe:LA teams will conduct a sustained calendar of neighborhood canvassing events throughout the year, bringing life-saving resources directly to the doorsteps of families who need them most.

A Simple Device That Saves Lives

During each canvassing operation, our educators and wildfire mitigation specialists visit homes throughout high-risk communities, beginning with a friendly fire safety review. We look for obvious hazards such as missing or disabled alarms, dangerous extension cord use, obstructed exits, or space heaters placed too close to combustibles.

When we identify a home without working smoke alarms, we install 10-year sealed, tamper-resistant alarms at no cost to the residents—ensuring long-term protection with minimal maintenance requirements.

But installation is just the beginning.

Teaching Families What to Do Before a Fire Starts

MySafe:LA’s mission extends well beyond equipment. Our team spends time with each household—adults, children, and caregivers—to explain the essentials of fire safety:

• How to create and practice a home fire escape plan
  
• Why smoke alarms should never be removed or silenced
  
• When and how to call 9-1-1
  
• Why everyone should “Get Out, Stay Out” until firefighters say it’s safe to return

These short conversations often become some of the most impactful moments of the entire visit. For many families—especially older adults, low-income households, or homes with young children—this may be their first opportunity to talk openly about fire safety and evacuation planning.

Building a Safer, More Resilient Los Angeles

Our expanding program is grounded in a simple belief: every neighborhood deserves access to basic life-safety tools, and community risk reduction only works when we meet residents where they are.

By the end of 2026, MySafe:LA aims to install thousands of new alarms, strengthen community awareness, and support the LAFD’s broader goal of reducing fire injuries and fatalities across Los Angeles.

As our partnerships grow and our capabilities expand, so does our impact. Together—with fire service partners, government support, corporate contributors, and the residents we serve—we’re building a safer, smarter, and more resilient Los Angeles, one home at a time.