This fall, more than 20 volunteers dedicated one morning to installing 85 smoke alarms as part of the Prescott Valley Community Smoke Alarm Walk, a partnership between the Arizona Burn Foundation, Red Cross of Arizona and the Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority (CAFMA).
CAFMA firefighters and volunteers collaborated to install the alarms in 23 homes and educate many more residents about smoke alarm and fire escape plan safety. The neighborhood was selected by CAFMA’s Prevention team following a recent house fire in the area.
“Our volunteers encountered a number of nonworking smoke alarms during the walk. So don’t wait, test your smoke alarms today and set a reminder to test all alarms once a month,” said CAFMA Fire Marshal Darrell Tirpak.
“If your smoke alarm uses batteries, change them out once per year. I recommend every Thanksgiving as it’s an easy date to remember.”
Smoke alarm initiatives are geared toward enhancing the safety of at-risk residents in high-risk neighborhoods by providing complimentary smoke alarms and alarm installation. CAFMA will continue working with the Arizona Burn Foundation and Red Cross to plan future Community Smoke Alarm Walks for neighborhoods in Prescott Valley, Chino Valley and Dewey-Humboldt.
CAFMA has the following suggestions:
• Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room and outside each sleeping area.
• Install alarms on every level of the home.
• Avoid installing alarms in the kitchen and bathrooms (to reduce false alarms).
• Test smoke alarms once a month.
• Dust smoke alarms regularly.
• Replace the entire smoke alarm every 8 to 10 years.
• Know two ways out of every room in your home.
• Create a fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year.
• If the alarm sounds, immediately go outside and stay outside.
• Alarms with strobe lights and bed shakers are available for those who are hard of hearing or deaf.
