OCOEE – The City of Ocoee Fire Department and the American Red Cross will install free smoke alarms in homes throughout the community on Saturday, March 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Ocoee firefighters, the American Red Cross and volunteers will go door-to-door in the Prima Vista and surrounding community to install new alarms, create escape plans and to educate Ocoee residents on the importance of having working smoke alarms. Prima Vista is located off of East Orlando Avenue.
The smoke alarm blitz is part of the American Red Cross Sound the Alarm campaign aimed at saving lives and reducing home fire deaths and injuries. According to the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office, there are more than 304 fires in Florida homes every week. Twenty-four percent start in the kitchen, over 22 percent are caused by faulty wiring, followed by careless smoking, children playing with matches or lighters and unattended heating devices.
More than half of Florida’s fire fatalities are age 41 and over, and small children under the age of 10 make up over 5%. One of the most disturbing statistics is that smoke detectors are not present or are inoperative in over 53 percent of these homes.
Anyone interested in visiting homes on March 25 can join the fire preparedness team by registering online at https://tinyurl.com/ocoee2023.
For more information, please call the Ocoee Fire Department at 407-905-3140.
