CARIBOU, Maine — March is American Red Cross month and local chapters are using the time to stress the importance of fire safety.
The American Red Cross plans to reduce fire deaths by 25 percent within the next five years. They’re asking homeowners to take two simple steps: install smoke detectors and have a fire drill.
The Aroostook County branch of the American Red Cross Pine Tree Chapter has donated smoke detectors to the Caribou Fire Department. Low-income families who can’t afford smoke detectors can visit the CFD and apply for a free smoke detector.
“You can come in and fill out a simple application, and we’ll go install it for you,” Caribou Fire Department Chief Scott Susi said.
Susi made it clear that even though you have a smoke detector, you still need an escape plan.
“You should know how to get out of your house in case of a fire – some type of plan, especially if you have children, and a meeting place outside,” Susi said. “It’s important the whole family can have a place where they can meet so they know everybody is out and safe.”
The American Red Cross says a working smoke detector reduces your chances of dying in a fire by half. They also say you have about two minutes, on average, to escape a burning house. An escape plan helps you know what to do in case a smoke detector sounds.
Fires this past winter have already claimed the lives of five Aroostook County people.
“It’s a sad truth that a fire tragedy brings out awareness. There’s nothing good that comes from any fire,” Susi said.
The American Red Cross recommends households also have house numbers visible from the street. This helps firefighters find your home when responding to a fire.
Home fires kill more Americans each year than all natural disasters combined, according to the American Red Cross.
Cooking-related fires are to blame as the leading cause of home structure fires. They account for 43 percent of all home fires in the U.S. Heating equipment is the leading cause of home fires in rural communities with less than 20,000 residents.
Faulty heating equipment in the home can produce carbon monoxide, which kills over 400 people each year. Alongside a working smoke detector, households should also have a carbon monoxide detector. Carbon monoxide is invisible and odorless, and a small amount can poison a person.
For more information on the American Red Cross fire prevention initiative visit redcross.org. If you’re in need of a smoke detector contact the Caribou Fire Department at 493-4204 or 493-4205.
