St. Louis Fire Dept. to Conduct Smoke Detector Blitz

For Immediate Release

                                              

ST. LOUIS --The St. Louis Fire Department will conduct a smoke detector blitz on Saturday, October 8 and Sunday, October 9, 2011. Firefighters will be going door-to-door throughout the City of St. Louis installing approx. 2,160 smoke alarms, 1,080 each day.

The St. Louis Fire Department Smoke Alarm Program was established in August of 1984. Since its inception, the program has been funded almost entirely by donations. In addition to private donations this program is currently being funded through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The program provides smoke alarms, free of charge, to any owner-occupied home in the City of St. Louis.

Since August of 2006, the department has installed 18,749 smoke alarms in 8,708 homes, protecting 18,422 citizens. During that time frame, there have been 151 fires reported in households that have participated in this program, resulting in approximately 401 lives potentially being saved. The smoke alarm program, along with other community outreach efforts, has allowed the City of St. Louis to realize single digit civilian fire fatalities over the past six years. Single digit fire fatalities in a major city are almost unheard of in the fire community.

Any city resident in need of a smoke alarm can contact the St. Louis Fire Department Headquarters, Monday – Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.  at  (314) 533-3406.

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