The Grand Rapids Fire Department is crediting the departments residential Safety Assessment Program with saving lives in a recent house fire. WGVU reports on the importance of having a working “smoke and carbon monoxide” detector and that the Residential Program is still available.
In a recent fire in the city of Grand Rapids, a smoke alarm, installed by the Fire Department’s Residential Safety Assessment Program, is now being credited with alerting residents to the fire. Here’s Fire Marshall, Ric Dokter.
“Somebody had lit a candle in a bedroom then left the bedroom, then the family was alerted by an alarm installed by us (the Residential Safety Program) in 2013. And the family was able to call 9-1-1 and get an early warning of the fire.”
Fire Marshall Dokter says that early warning is key and it’s important that working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors be in all homes-whether an apartment or house. He says an average of 6 to7 alarms are installed in each home. Adding local and national statistics show the fires are much more likely to become fatal without working smoke detectors. He says the Fire Department is still offering the program to occupants of one and two family homes.
“All a person needs to do is call 3-1-1 and they will walk them through the appointment p4rocess. Then a fire crew will come to the house and install smoke alarms plus a safety assessment of the home. And while are alarms are credited with saving in this case, we also believe we have pointed out dangerous situations. I think it’s a program that works in many different ways.”
Dokter says the charred alarm, despite being in the direct path of the fire continue to operate as designed. A replacement smoke alarm was installed by firefighters before they left the home. If you’re interested in the Residential Safety Assessment Program, you can 3-1-1 or 456-3000 to schedule a free home assessment.
