Every day, seven people die in house fires across the country.

The American Red Cross is fighting those odds with their Sound the Alarm initiative.

The Red Cross will be installing smoke alarms in thousands of homes across the United States, including 550 smoke alarms here in Western New York.

Those alarms are free and equipped with a 10-year lithium battery.

Sound The Alarm helps families create evacuation plans as well.

"In less than 20 to 30 minutes three individuals will enter the home,” explained Alexandra Murello, executive director of the American Red Cross in Western New York. “The one will do the installation, another will document the process and one will be there to fully educate and go through the escape route. So, the individuals feel fully comfortable about not only the smoke alarms themselves, but how they're going to get out in case of a fire."

Installations around Western New York will begin on April 28th.