Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
4100 Chain Bridge Rd, Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Phone: 703-246-3801, TTY: 711 and Fax:703-385-1687
Duty PIO (Weekends/After-hours): 703-280-0694
Media Information Line: 703-324-3000
Email: fire-rescue.Pa-LSE@fairfaxcounty.gov
Website: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fire

10/27/2008

Firefighters Provide Smoke Alarms, Batteries

On Saturday, November 1, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., firefighters will canvas homes in neighborhoods throughout the county checking for working smoke alarms. Firefighters are taking a proactive approach to fire safety by raising awareness, and helping to ensure residents have working smoke alarms in their homes.

This smoke alarm initiative was made possible by a grant from the Virginia Department of Fire Programs to Fairfax County as recent recipients of the "Get Alarmed" program. Smoke alarms play a vital role in reducing deaths and injuries from fire and have contributed to an almost 50 percent decrease in fire deaths since the late 1970s. Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms save lives and protect against injury and property loss due to fire.

Nationwide, a house fire happens every 85 seconds. The majority of home fire-related deaths are from smoke inhalation, not flames or burns. The peak period for house fires is between December through February, from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m.

For more information, please contact Lieutenant Willie Bailey or Renee Stilwell at 703-246-3801.

For more information, call Daniel L. Schmidt or Lieutenant Raúl G. Castillo, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, 703-246-3801 and TTY 711. Fairfax County is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in all county programs, services and activities. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request.