Program Could Help Cut Fire Deaths

Around 60 Mississippians die in home fires every year, often linked to a lack of education about basic fire prevention and fire prevention equipment. MPB’s Stephen Koranda has more on a program aimed at changing that.

Mississippi has been awarded a 500 thousand dollar grant to provide smoke detectors to around 10,000 low income homes, which are often most at risk, says state Fire Marshall Mike Cheney.

“It occurs among the elderly, people who are close to the poverty level. They have no money to pay the utility bill, and they’re trying to stay warm, they get too close to an open flame.”

Having working smoke alarms is especially important in the states rural areas, says .A. K. Rosenhan, the fire services coordinator in Oktibbeha County.

“Passersby are not going to see anything. No neighbors are going to see anything or hear or be of any assistance. Early warning is of paramount importance because of that and the fact that we have usually pretty good distance to come being a rural fire department.”

Local fire departments will install the smoke detectors and provide much needed fire education. The alarms have a built in 10 year battery, which can’t be removed. State Chief Deputy Fire Marshall, Ricky Davis, says this will help prevent a common problem, having a non-working smoke alarms.

“I’ve actually even worked fires where people have heard the alarm go off and they thinks it’s the battery going dead. They go take the battery out and the house is actually on fire, burning up.”

Fire Marshall Cheney recommends when Mississippian’s change their clocks this weekend, they also take the time to check their smoke alarms.