Escambia Fire-Rescue Reminding Residents to Check Smoke Alarms
ESCAMBIA COUNTY - A house fire last weekend is serving as a reminder to make sure you have working smoke alarms in your home.
Eight people escaped the fire on Montclair Road in Pensacola because the smoke alarm worked properly.
But as Channel Three's Jim Carmack explains, that's not always the case.
Smoke alarms can be like seat belts: you don't need them...until you need them. Then, they save lives.
So the Escambia County Fire-Rescue Department is going door-to-door in local neighborhoods to warn people of the risk of house fires.
Lt. Daniel Akerman/Escambia County Fire-Rescue: "Saturday morning we had one fire that had no smoke alarm and the occupant was never warned. The fire department got there and had to rescue that person. That person is now in critical condition in Shands Hospital in Gainesville. The other fire was in this neighborhood, they had a working smoke alarm. The smoke alarm alerted the occupants and they were able to get out in time."
Lieutenant Akerman says he has seen an increase in the number of smoke alarms being installed, but the maintenance is still somewhat lacking, including replacing batteries.
"This smoke alarm was in a house fire about 6 years ago in the county. The smoke alarm never went off in the fire. We took it out of the house after we extinguished the fire, and the battery was connected, everything was set up right, and it never went off. We put a new battery to it and fix the wiring, which has broken since then...and it still works."
It's a message we hear every year, but firefighters are hoping a little reminder goes a long way.
"We're moving into the peak season for fires and we want you to be prepared in case you do have a fire. Have that early warning device. Have a smoke alarm."
In Pensacola, Jim Carmack, Channel 3 News.
For more information about the Escambia County Smoke Alarm Program, call (850) 595-HERO.Escambia Fire-Rescue Reminding Residents to Check Smoke Alarms
Eight people escaped the fire on Montclair Road in Pensacola because the smoke alarm worked properly.
But as Channel Three's Jim Carmack explains, that's not always the case.
Smoke alarms can be like seat belts: you don't need them...until you need them. Then, they save lives.
So the Escambia County Fire-Rescue Department is going door-to-door in local neighborhoods to warn people of the risk of house fires.
Lt. Daniel Akerman/Escambia County Fire-Rescue: "Saturday morning we had one fire that had no smoke alarm and the occupant was never warned. The fire department got there and had to rescue that person. That person is now in critical condition in Shands Hospital in Gainesville. The other fire was in this neighborhood, they had a working smoke alarm. The smoke alarm alerted the occupants and they were able to get out in time."
Lieutenant Akerman says he has seen an increase in the number of smoke alarms being installed, but the maintenance is still somewhat lacking, including replacing batteries.
"This smoke alarm was in a house fire about 6 years ago in the county. The smoke alarm never went off in the fire. We took it out of the house after we extinguished the fire, and the battery was connected, everything was set up right, and it never went off. We put a new battery to it and fix the wiring, which has broken since then...and it still works."
It's a message we hear every year, but firefighters are hoping a little reminder goes a long way.
"We're moving into the peak season for fires and we want you to be prepared in case you do have a fire. Have that early warning device. Have a smoke alarm."
In Pensacola, Jim Carmack, Channel 3 News.
For more information about the Escambia County Smoke Alarm Program, call (850) 595-HERO.Escambia Fire-Rescue Reminding Residents to Check Smoke Alarms
