Seconds count when fire strikes and the Columbia Fire Department is helping to ensure residents have a fighting chance to discover fires in their homes before it is too late.
The CFD has nearly 100 smoke detectors to distribute this fall thanks to a grant from the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
“People can call us,” CFD Chief Jeff McKenzie said. “Also, people that we know that need them we will go around and put them in. The guys will be installing them, so there won’t be anything for the homeowner to do other than contact us and say that they need one.”
McKenzie said the program is targeting the elderly and homebound, but others can request smoke detectors.
McKenzie said the CFD wanted to distribute the smoke detectors ahead of cooler weather as many fires occur in the winter.
“Smoke detectors are very important,” he said. “If you’re in your home sleeping and you hear it go off, you need to have a plan in place and know what to do. Make sure you can get out of your windows. We have been to places before where the windows were nailed shut. If you have to get out of it in a hurry, it’s a little late to go get something to pull it out. People need to make sure they can get out of their windows if necessary and have a designated place to go outside the home in the event of a fire.”
October is Fire Safety Month and the CFD has plans for events to educate children and residents about fire dangers.
“The guys will be going around and giving some classes on that,” McKenzie said. “The big thing is awareness. We want to make people aware of the dangers of not having smoke detectors and having a plan and a designated place to go. In general, knowing what to do and not panicking.”
For questions or to request a smoke detector, call Station 1 on Evergreen Street at (601) 736-4645 or Station 2 on Pearl Street at (601) 736-4556.
For those who have smoke detectors, McKenzie said now is a good time to check the batteries and functionality.
“Whenever we approach the time change or a change of seasons, it’s a good time to check them,” he said. “It’s a good time to replace the batteries. That’s a good way to remember it. When there’s a time change, change the batteries.”
Pictured Above: The Columbia Fire Department has nearly 100 smoke detectors to give away this fall. | Photo by Mark Rogers
