By Taelor Duckworth & Laura Hann, staff contributors, American Red Cross

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said that we all have to decide whether we “will walk in the light of creative altruism or the darkness of destructive selfishness. Life’s most persistent and nagging question, is, “What are you doing for others?”

Dr. King talked about the end of his mortal life in one of his last sermons on Feb 4, 1968. He lifted up the value of service as the hallmark of a full life. “I want you to say on that day, that I did try in my life… to love and serve humanity.”

Beginning this weekend, the American Red Cross will take to the streets across the North Texas in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. These workers will have a hand in carrying out the mission of the national Home Fire Prevention Campaign which aims to reduce deaths and injuries caused by home fires by 25% in five years.

Did you know?

• Every 8 minutes, the American Red Cross responds to help a family affected by a home fire.
• On average, 7 people die and 36 people are injured as a result of a home fire every day.
• Over $7 billion in property damage occurs every year from home fires.
• If a fire starts in your home, you may have just 2 minutes to escape.
• 60% of house fire deaths occur in homes with no working smoke alarms.
• During a home fire, working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan that has been practiced regularly can save lives.

We have several events planned across the region this weekend, with a projected 2,900 smoke alarms to be installed and over 600 homes that will be receiving lifesaving home fire safety education. Starting tomorrow and going through Tuesday, Red Crossers in these North Texas towns will work to share fire prevention information, prepare families on what to do when a home fire occurs and ensure that homes are enabled with working smoke alarms:

• Borger
• Brady
• Greenville
• Grand Prairie
• Longview
• Stephenville
• Texarkana
• Wichita Falls
• Sulphur Springs

If you or someone you know would like to receive free fire safety education, a free smoke alarm test/battery replacement or a free smoke alarm installation, please contact your local Red Cross chapter, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit us online at redcross.org/northtexas for more information.

To learn about the legacy of the MLK Day of Service, watch this short video or visit the King Center website.

For more information about the Home Fire Prevention Campaign, visit http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/home-family/prevent-home-fires.