On Saturday, September 9, 2023, over 20 volunteers dedicated their morning to installing smoke alarms as part of the Prescott Valley Community Smoke Alarm Walk, a collaboration between the Arizona Burn Foundation, Red Cross of Arizona, and the Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority (CAFMA).
Smoke alarm initiatives are geared toward enhancing the safety of at-risk residents in high- risk neighborhoods by providing complimentary smoke alarms and alarm installation. The selection of this particular neighborhood was guided by CAFMA’s Prevention team, prompted by a recent incident involving a house fire.
Thanks to the combined efforts of volunteers and CAFMA firefighters, 85 smoke alarms were installed in 23 homes, and many more residents were educated in smoke alarm and fire escape plan safety.
“Our volunteers encountered a number of non-working smoke alarms during the walk, so don’t wait, test your smoke alarms today and set a reminder to test all alarms once a month,” said CAFMA Fire Marshal Darrell Tirpak. “If your smoke alarm uses batteries, change them out once per year. I recommend every Thanksgiving as it’s an easy date to remember.”
It is CAFMA’s plan to continue working with the Arizona Burn Foundation and Red Cross to plan future Community Smoke Alarm Walks for neighborhoods in Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, and Dewey-Humboldt.
CAFMA thanks those that volunteered their time and energy to support the community of Prescott Valley and offers a special thanks to All West Fire & Security for providing lunch for the volunteers.
SMOKE ALARM SAFETY:
- Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room and outside each sleeping
- Install alarms on every level of the
- Avoid installing alarms in the kitchen and bathrooms (to reduce false alarms).
- Test smoke alarms once a
- Dust smoke alarms
- Replace the entire smoke alarm every 8 – 10
- Know two ways out of every room in your
- Create a fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a
- If the alarm sounds, immediately go outside and stay
- Alarms with strobe lights and bed shakers are available for those who are hard-of hearing or
