In Wake of Fatal Fire, Volunteers to Install Free Smoke Alarms in San Juan Capistrano

Following the tragic deaths of a mother and her 2 and 3-year-old son’s in a San Juan Capistrano fire this year, volunteers are going door-to-door offering to install free smoke alarms to residents Saturday.

Volunteers from the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), Orange County Sheriff Department, the American Red Cross and Mission Basilica in partnership with the City of San Juan Capistrano and other community partners will install free smoke alarms in homes in the La Zanja neighborhood in the City of San Juan Capistrano. Residents will also receive information on fire safety and preparedness and learn how to create a home evacuation plan.

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Volunteers will be in the neighborhood from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

In addition to installing smoke alarms, the OCFA and the Red Cross encourages all Orange County residents to take two simple steps that can save lives: ensure you have working smoke alarms in your home and create and practice home fire exit drills.

Fire experts agree that people may have as little as one minute to escape a burning home before it’s too late to get out. A working smoke alarm reduces the chance of dying in a fire by nearly half, and a pre-determined escape plan ensures everyone knows the best way out and where to meet once outside.

Submitted by the Orange County Fire Authority