E-Mail
Print
Des Moines, IA (KICD) -- Officials say smoke alarms alerted a record number of people in Iowa about a fire emergency last year.
Ray Reynolds is the Iowa State Fire Marshall. He says that 217 people were saved because of working smoke alarm systems in their homes..
. That's a jump from about 185 last year, and about 145 in 2010. Reynolds thanked the over 200 fire departments that have installed detectors over the past two years...
Most people saved by smoke alarms were asleep during the night. Reynolds says the biggest issue for fire protection is when batteries in the detectors are dead. He says they are working on addressing that issue...
Officials say advance warning also reduces property damage. Reynolds says there were over 5000 structure fires in Iowa last year, and the state estimates $20 million in property damage for fires with working smoking alarms. Property damage climbs to $46 million for fires with no smoke alarm.
Reynolds shared thoughts for fire prevention, all need to heed...
Sometimes it's the simple things that make a difference.
