Firefighters Install Free Smoke Alarms Amid Winter Fire Concerns

ALEXANDRIA, VA—If you don't have smoke alarms properly installed in your home, now's the time to check. The Alexandria Fire Department will install them for free at city residences due to increased risks of home fires during winter.

Fire Chief Robert Dubé offered the service in light of 106 people across the U.S. dying in house fires last week, according to a similar notice from Loudoun County Fire Chief Keith Brower. In all, around 890 people die in winter fires according to data from the United States Fire Administration and the National Fire Protection Association.

Cooking is the most common cause of winter fires, so it makes sense that many have happened around 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Fires often start by heat sources too close to combustible items. In particular, discarded fireplace ashes have been a concern in the local area following two Fairfax County fires within days.

Ensuring your home has enough working smoke alarms can make the difference in escaping a fire, according to the NFPA. Homes should have smoke alarms in every bedroom and on every level. Residents should also follow safety tips as recommended by FEMA:

• Keep items that can catch fire three feet from heat sources
• Do not use an oven to heat your home
• Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or boiling food
• Turn space heaters off when you leave the room or go to bed
• Keep vents clear of snow and ice to allow carbon monoxide to vent outside
• Have your heating system serviced annually by a qualified professional

City of Alexandria residents can request smoke alarm installation by visiting Call Click Connect, searching for "smoke" and follow the instructions to request service.

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