News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Baxter Fire Department is offering free smoke alarms and installation to anyone who wants one.
Fire Chief Matthew White said residents can also request a fire safety check in their home and will test older smoke detectors that take batteries like 9 volts. White said these new detectors have a 10 year battery, so helping to install them in the right parts of a home is a big part of the initiative.
“The fire marshal’s office likes the fire department to come out and do the installation of it,” White said. “Due to the fact that they want to make sure they go in the correct location and are put up and installed, and they kind of look through the house to make sure they are installed in the right location.”
White said it is recommended to have a smoke alarm in every room of the house and on every floor, including the basement. He said this is important because closing doors are important for containing a fire.
“We’ve found out by detecting and using research technology, they’ve found that if you close your bedroom door at night and keep your door closed a simple interior door can keep that fire from expanding and going throughout your house,” White said. “At night time, we like to have smoke detectors not only in your bedroom, but outside your bedroom.”
He said these alarms are available from every fire department in Putnam County, if someone does not live in Baxter. White said they received this inventory of detectors through the state fire marshal’s office and the Sound Off program.
