VB Fire: Install, test smoke detectors

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - As part of a nationwide effort, the Virginia Beach Fire Department is asking all residents and businesses to install and test their smoke alarms today. This request is a result of one of the deadliest holiday seasons in recent memory and several significant fires in the first days of 2009. Since Thanksgiving 2008, there have been more than 158 fatal fires across the country resulting in over 200 fire fatalities.

- On Christmas Eve, four died in a house fire in Mount Sterling, Kentucky. All of the victims were children and officials cannot be certain whether smoke alarms worked.

- Four adults and three children died in a southwest Philadelphia home the day after Christmas when gasoline was used to fuel a kerosene heater. There were no working smoke alarms in the home.

- In Baltimore, two people died in a fire above a grocery store. A young couple died in the blaze and investigators found no working smoke alarms in the building.

- In Washington, D.C. on New Year's Day, six individuals died in a house fire on Jackson Street, Northeast. While the cause was listed as accidental/electrical, officials are not sure smoke alarms worked properly.

- Yesterday, eight people died in a residential fire in Oswego County, New York. The cause is still under investigation.

- Yesterday, three people, including two teenage girls, died after an early morning house fire in Ringling, Oklahoma. Officials say the fire started early Monday morning while at least two of the victims were still in bed. For the two teenage girls

Virginia Beach Fire Department Issues a Call Asking Residents to Install and Test Their Smoke Alarms Today who lived inside the house, this was supposed to be their first day back to school after winter break. Officials say once flames broke out at 4 a.m., the girls, along with another relative, never made it out of the home.

In the event of a fire, a properly installed and maintained smoke alarm can save your life and those of your loved ones. Smoke alarms are a very important means of preventing home fire fatalities by providing an early warning signal so you and your family can escape. They are one of the best safety devices you can buy and install to protect yourself, your family, and your home. You can prevent tragedies simply by testing and maintaining your smoke alarms and practicing a fire escape plan. All smoke alarms in your house should be tested once a month and their batteries replaced annually or as indicated by the manufacturers instructions.

If you do not have a smoke alarm and need assistance, please contact Operation Smoke Detector. Operation Smoke Detector is a community service project funded by donations from businesses, community groups and citizens of Virginia Beach. The project is designed to provide and install smoke alarms in homes of qualified Virginia Beach citizens that do not have smoke alarms or are unable to install their own. Limited quantities of specialty alarms for the hearing impaired are available for qualified residents.

For questions related to the hearing impaired program, please contact Elayne Weinbrecht at 757-385-2877 or email her at Eweinbre@vbgov.com .

If you have any comments, questions or concerns pertaining to this program, please contact John Hallman at 757-385-2876 or email him at Jhallman@vbgov.com .

To request a free smoke alarm, call the Operation Smoke Detection Hotline at 471-5826. A recorder will ask you to leave your name, phone number and address. Within a few days, someone will call you to verify and the closest fire company to you will make an appointment to install a smoke detector.

REMEMBER, SMOKE DETECTORS SAVE LIVES!!