From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
MONTGOMERY – Today, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced that the state will distribute approximately 300,000 smoke detectors free of charge throughout the state. Ivey held a press release announcing the initiative, titled “Let’s Get Alarmed Alabama”.
During the conference, Ivey said that a trial was held in which around 20,000 smoke detectors were given to households in the county. Calling the trial “a success” she said that the program will now branch out statewide. She stressed the importance of smoke detectors, citing 19 fire deaths that have occurred so far in Alabama this year.
“Folks, we’ve got to find a way to stop this,” she said. “In many instances when you’ve had a home fire, smoke detectors have actually saved lives. So it’s important to take what we’ve learned with the success we’ve had here in Montgomery and take it statewide, and see that all Alabamians who need a smoke detector have one and have it installed if they choose.”
Ivey gave the number of the Alabama Fire College in Tuscaloosa, which is coordinating with the Alabama Fire Marshalls, In Touch and the Alabama Fire College for the initiative. She said that those in need of a detector can call the Fire College, which will contact a local fire department to have volunteers come and install it.
The number she gave is 1-800-241-2467.
Afterwards, Matt Russell, training section chief at the Alabama Fire College, gave statistics relating to fatalities and damages that have occurred in the state as a result of fires. He said that 40 percent fire incidents are the result of cooking equipment with smoking materials making up 20 percent.
Children less than five years old and seniors more than 65 years old are particularly at risk during fire incidents. He also said that blacks are twice as likely to die in fire incidents.
The “Let’s Get Alarmed Alabama” initiative was said to take months, maybe even years, to complete.