COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) - Many Columbus residents can feel safe knowing they finally have a smoke detector.
According to the American Red Cross of Georgia, seven people die every day from house fires in homes without working smoke alarms. Columbus fire officials are working hard to decrease that number.
Saturday, the American Red Cross of Southwest Georgia partnered with the Columbus Fire and EMS and installed 183 smoke detectors for Columbus residents. Executive Director Johnny Williams says the alarms will save many people from structure fires.
“Alarms have been known to cut fatalities in a fire and half so we feel like we’re getting out and saving lives today. It’s important to have early warning signs and that’s what the smoke alarm would do for you so you can get out of those buildings, " said Williams.
District 4 Councilwoman Toiya Tucker knows firsthand the effects of not having a smoke detector in a home.
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“She had smoked all in her lungs and we had I was able to qualify department and everything but that’s a home that was built you know before 1987. We didn’t have a smoke detector.”
News Leader 9 spoke with District 4 Councilwoman Toiya Tucker on the importance of having a smoke alarm. Tucker says she knows firsthand the effects of not having a smoke detector in a home.
“My grandmother wanted to cook this big meal you know for Thanksgiving and I was in the room. The door was closed and I was sleeping cause I had just come in and on my flight and she was cooking but she was in the living room and she fell asleep and we woke up to the entire house, filled with smoke, ” said Tucker.
Fortunately, Tucker and her family were able to make it out of the home safely. She says homes built in the 1980s ′s most likely don’t have smoke detectors.
Williams says the smoke detectors installed on Saturday are equipped with lithium batteries that last up to 10 years and if you are a resident without a smoke detector Williams says you can contact your local fire station or the American Red Cross for a free installation.
The American Red Cross of Georgia is hoping to install at least 1600 free smoke alarms in the state of Georgia in the month of March.
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