As part of National Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 5 – 11, and in light of recent fatal house fires, the Allegheny County Health Department is reminding residents that every home should have a smoke alarm on every level.Free smoke alarms, including installation and fire safety education, are available from the County Health Department. To schedule an installation, call 412-247-7800
While the smoke alarms are available countywide, priority is given to the elderly and disabled and residents of 17 communities with the county’s highest house fire rates:
Braddock, Collier, Duquesne, Etna, Forward, Homestead, McKeesport, North Braddock, Versailles, Wilkinsburg and the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Allentown, Beltzhoover, Carrick, Hazelwood, Homewood, Lincoln-Lemington and Perry South.
The program, which is funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, offers smoke alarms powered with built-in lithium batteries designed to last 10 years and provides one alarm for every level of the home.
House fires are a major cause of death and injury, especially during the cold weather months, and working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in such a fire by 50%.
Kitchen fires account for 40% of all house fires. Other major causes include smoking materials, electrical problems, malfunctioning heating equipment and the use of unattended candles.
