DFD, Red Cross Install Smoke Alarms In Area Homes

Wednesday, October 25th, 2023

167 people are safer this week thanks to a combined effort of the Dalton Fire Department and the American Red Cross to install new smoke detectors in Dalton area homes. The "Sound the Alarm" event on Saturday saw the agencies install 104 smoke alarms in 58 homes. 

Caption: DFD firefighters, Red Cross volunteers, and family members of the late WCFD Battalion Chief Terry Warnix pose together with volunteers on Saturday during the "Sound the Alarm" event at the Mack Gaston Community Center

Saturday's event was held at the Mack Gaston Community Center and featured an education effort to teach residents about the importance of not just having working smoke alarms in homes, but also making sure that they stay in good working order with fresh batteries. As part of the event, the Red Cross had a supply of free smoke alarms to give to families who were unable to afford them. Volunteers from the agencies were also able to go with residents to help them install the alarms in their homes. 

Saturday's event was dedicated to the memory of the late Battalion Chief Terry Warnix who served with the Whitfield County Fire Department for more than three decades before his passing earlier this month. Members of his family attended the event. The United Way of Northwest Georgia and the Whitfield County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) also assisted with the "Sound the Alarm" event. 

Caption: Dalton firefighters check the installation of a smoke alarm in a Dalton residence during Saturday's event

Even if your home already has smoke alarms installed, it is important to make sure that they are in good working order. You should check each alarm's batteries often by pressing the test button. It's important to swap out the batteries in your smoke detectors at least once a year, and a good way to remember to do it is to change the batteries when you change your clocks for a time change. If your alarm is making a "chirping" sound to alert you that the battery is low, do not ignore it - change the battery immediately. And make sure that you replace your smoke alarms with new ones at least once every ten years as the detectors do wear out over time. 

Residents in need of a smoke alarm can visit: https://www.redcross.org/local/georgia/about-us/our-work/home-fire-campaign.html for more information.