Now’s the time to get free smoke detector for your home

Two weeks after fire swept through a Lilly Avenue home, killing 68-year-old Ruby Davis and injuring her brother, it’s still unclear what sparked the blaze.

Although fire investigator Lt. Ben Gleaton still is interviewing witnesses, the fire appears to have been an accident, he said. There’s no sign of foul play.

Six people have died in four house fires in Bibb County so far in 2016, three of them in just the past month. Cheryl Mcglynn, 57, and Troy Thomason, 56, died following an Oct. 5 blaze at a house off Wimbish Road.

Authorities say a working smoke detector was in use at just one of the burned homes.

Statewide, working smoke detectors were found at only seven of the 86 residential fires that have killed 122 people this year.

With two months left in the calendar year, the state has already surpassed the 25-year annual average of more than 120 fire deaths.

“It’s not looking like a good year,” state Fire Marshal Dwayne Garriss said.

Despite years of public service campaigns encouraging the use of smoke alarms and agencies even giving them away, many homes still aren’t equipped with the life-saving devices.

What’s more, just having a smoke detector isn’t enough. While having an older device is better than not having one at all, detectors older than 10 years should be replaced, since the sensitivity reduces over time, Garriss said.

Batteries should be swapped out at least every six months, and alarms should be tested monthly

“If it’s not maintained where it activates and actually works, it’s not doing any good,” Garriss said.

Chief Brenda Thomas of the Macon-Bibb County Fire Department’s Fire Protection bureau said firefighters have been giving away and installing smoke detectors for more than 20 years.

Still, there are homes that don’t have them and those who don’t have a plan for escaping if a fire does break out.

“You need both,” Thomas said. “It’s a life-saving combination.”

So far this year, firefighters have installed more than 312 smoke detectors in private homes. Apartments and rental homes aren’t eligible for the fire department-provided devices.

The devices are purchased through the fire department’s budget and donations. In the past, grants also have funded the alarms.

Firefighters also perform home visits upon request to check smoke detectors and ensure that they’re working properly. While visiting a home, firefighters perform a free safety check, looking for overloaded electrical outlets and other dangers, and can help residents develop escape plans.

The American Red Cross, another agency that provides free smoke alarms, is in the third year of a five-year campaign to install 500,000 smoke detectors nationally each year. By visiting neighborhoods and installing the alarms door to door, the organization hopes to reduce deaths and injuries by 25 percent over the five years.

Besides installing the devices, volunteers test alarms, replace batteries, develop escape plans and provide fire education, said Connie Hensler, a Red Cross spokeswoman.

Red Cross volunteers installed 191 alarms in Bibb County and 322 in Houston County last year.

Smoking, unattended cooking and heating sources are the main causes of fatal fires in the state, Garriss said.

He said 3 feet of space should be left around space heaters, and the devices should have an automatic cut-off function that engages if they tip over.

Fireplaces need screens to keep sparks from landing on the floor. Candles should have gloves around them or large, solid bases to keep them from tipping over, Garriss said.

Garriss said it’s also recommended that homes be equipped with fire extinguishers, which should be checked regularly to ensure they’re in good working order. Those older than 10 years may need to be replaced, since the pressure inside can leak out over time.

In addition to stashing an extinguisher in the laundry room, kitchen or garage, it’s also good to have one in a bedroom closet, he said.

“You can fight your way out if you have to,” Garriss said.

The County Coroner’s Office also installs smoke detectors for free.

To schedule an appointment to receive a smoke detector, call the Red Cross at 743-8671, the Macon-Bibb County Fire Department at 751-9180 or the coroner’s office at 621-6314.

This story was originally published October 28, 2016 at 2:43 PM with the headline "Now’s the time to get free smoke detector for your home."