Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, Red Cross report federal grant funds 1,500 alarms for Glades blitzes

Representatives of Palm Beach County Fire Rescue and the American Red Cross updated the Pahokee City Commission on a community safety initiative that supplies and installs combined smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

Elise Brown, presenting on behalf of the fire‑rescue/community education team and the Red Cross, said a federal grant purchased 1,500 combination units intended for Glades residents and supports multiple community “blitz” installation events. Brown said the devices include voice alerts that tell occupants the hazard type and location and that new units have long‑life sealed batteries.

Brown and Red Cross volunteers described recent activity: about 200 alarms were installed during a July 20 event and nearly 600 alarms have been installed in recent years in the Pahokee area, with more than 170 home visits accounted for—affecting roughly 520 residents, according to the presentation. The partners planned another installation blitz in the coming Saturday and reported nearly 100 residents already signed up for that event.

Red Cross volunteer Pat (surname given in the record as Lucy) described related services such as bed‑shakers and chaplain follow‑up for households affected by home fires. Commissioners thanked the presenters and acknowledged the partnership with the county sheriff’s office on staging and volunteer support.

Speakers and figures are taken directly from the meeting presentation and the public record of this meeting.