In every five home-fire deaths, three result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Recently, there have been two home-fire fatalities in the Leicester Fire district, and on Saturday, May 2, state officials and local fire departments will canvass the area to educate residents about fire safety and to hand out fire alarms. Here are the full details:
Leicester Fire District Residents to Receive Free Smoke Alarms During Canvassing Event
Leicester Fire Department partners with The Office of State Fire Marshal to install alarms in homes on May 2.
RALEIGH — Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Wayne Goodwin announced today that the Department of Insurance Office of State Fire Marshal is partnering with local, state and national organizations to provide working smoke alarms and fire safety education to residents in Leicester Fire District. According to the National Fire Protection Association, three of every five home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Recently, Buncombe County has endured two home fire fatalities in Leicester Fire district.
“Safety is the number one priority,” said Goodwin. “By working together, by pooling our resources, and by reaching out to the most at-risk communities, we can help prevent future tragedies.”
On Saturday, May 2, volunteers will be canvassing neighborhoods in Buncombe County to teach residents in Leicester Fire District about fire safety and properly install working fire alarms in homes. OSFM will provide 800 ten-year lithium smoke alarms and 25 alarms for people who are deaf or hard of hearing to the installation teams. Leicester Fire Department, Department of Insurance Office of the State Fire Marshal, Safe Kids North Carolina, Safe Kids Western NC, Leicester Auxiliary, NC American Red Cross, Asheville Fire Department, NC Baptist Ministry, NC Division of Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Nationwide Insurance are assisting with the effort.
Members of the media wishing to cover the event should meet at the Leicester Fire Department Headquarters, 2852 New Leicester Highway, Leicester at 9 a.m. on May 2. Canvassing will begin around 10 a.m. For more information, on the day of the event, contact Chief Chris Brown, Leicester Fire Department, at 828-552-1376.
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