(Pictured: Florence resident Paula, recipient of ABF’s 40,000th smoke alarm, with ABF CEO Bridget Doherty, Fire Marshal Jennifer Peel-Davis, Florence councilmembers Tony Bencina and Sherrie Bedford, and representatives from the Town of Florence Fire Department and Florence Copper representatives Sophie Dessart and Bruce Kingsley.)
FLORENCE, AZ (Tuesday, October 20) – The Arizona Burn Foundation (ABF) installed its 40,000th no-cost smoke alarm on Friday, October 16, during a Community Smoke Alarm Walk in Florence. The milestone alarm was installed in the home of 83-year-old Florence resident Paula.
Friday’s event, held in partnership with the Town of Florence Fire Department, brought together 31 volunteers who installed 183 smoke alarms in 66 homes throughout the Florence Gardens and Caliente Casa de Sol mobile home parks. It marked the third Community Smoke Alarm Walk since ABF and the department first partnered in fall 2025.
“This program provides important protection and peace of mind for residents in Florence’s retirement communities,” said Councilmember Tony Bencina. “I’m grateful to my fellow Councilmembers and our generous community sponsors for supporting this work, and to the Arizona Burn Foundation, American Red Cross, our dedicated fire team, and community volunteers for giving their time and bringing this wonderful program to Florence.”
Through partnerships with the American Red Cross and fire departments statewide, ABF provides and installs no-cost smoke alarms in high-risk communities identified by the departments serving them.
Since the Community Smoke Alarm Program began in 2006, ABF has:
“Reaching 40,000 smoke alarms installed is an incredible milestone for the Arizona Burn Foundation, but what matters most is what each alarm represents: another home and family better protected from fire,” said Arizona Burn Foundation CEO Bridget Doherty. “It feels especially fitting to celebrate this milestone in Florence, where the Town of Florence and Florence Copper have shown such strong support for this program. We are also incredibly grateful to the American Red Cross, whose partnership has been instrumental in this work, and to the many fire departments, funders, volunteers and community partners across Arizona who have helped us reach this moment.”
ABF has expanded the program to make fire safety more accessible. In 2024, it began providing specialized smoke-alarm systems for people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. The three-part systems include a specialized alarm, bed shaker and strobe light, equipment that can be cost-prohibitive for many families. ABF has also installed specialized carbon monoxide alarms for Deaf and Hard of Hearing residents.
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