This weekend Escambia County Fire Rescue installed 60 smoke alarms in Lincoln Park homes thanks to the assistance of 35 volunteers from Deliverance Tabernacle Christian Center and the American Red Cross. It set a record for the largest number ever installed by county fire crews in one day.
The volunteers went door to door in the Lincoln Park neighborhood signing residents up as part of Lincoln Park Fire Safety Day, and Escambia County Fire Rescue crews returned to each home identified by the volunteers to install a new smoke alarm with a 10-year battery.
Saturday marked the first time a community group like Deliverance Tabernacle Christian Center has participated in the smoke alarm installation program.
Public Safety Director Mike Weaver credits the effectiveness of today’s program to the participation of the volunteers, “We’ve gone out into the community with the same program many times before, but never with today’s success. We see it in disaster recovery all the time, but today shows just how powerful neighbors helping neighbors really can be with prevention measures too. I’m excited to partner with more community groups and line up similar events throughout the year.â€
Smoke alarms that are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing fire deaths and injuries. According to the National Fire Protection Association, a working smoke alarm cuts the chances of dying in a reported fire in half. Almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. The Escambia County Commission has purchased 800 smoke alarms since January in hopes of helping our community reach the goal of every home in the county having a working smoke alarm.
Community groups who would like to participate in future events or for more information about fire safety, contact Escambia County Fire Rescue at (850) 475-5530or fire@myescambia.com. For information about obtaining a home smoke alarm, call (850) 595-HERO (4376). Residents within city of Pensacola limits may call (850) 436-5200 for smoke alarm installation assistance.