Every October, the entire nation recognizes "Fire Prevention Week". This year, October 5 - October 11, we are paying special attention to "Smoke Detectors".

It is a proven fact, that smoke detectors SAVE LIVES!!!!

Many people die as a result of smoke and fire in the United States annually; and most deaths that occur, may have been prevented if they had smoke detectors or their smoke detectors worked. Dead batteries, nuisance/false alarms, too costly to purchase or even expired smoke detectors, are some of the reasons many people don't have working smoke detectors.

Here is a very sad news story from "The Columbus Dispatch" in Ohio, that shows the importance of working smoke detectors, written today:

Oct. 06--A fire that killed a Crawford County father and his young daughter early Friday started accidentally, fire investigators say. The fire started about 8 a.m. Friday. When firefighters got inside the house, they found Mark Blunt, 39, and his daughter, MacKenzie Blunt, 2, in a downstairs bedroom at their home in Tiro, about 70 miles north of Columbus.

Mr. Blunt was pronounced dead at the scene. MacKenzie was taken to Ohio Health MedCentral Shelby Hospital in Richland County with severe burns. She died a short time later.

Lindsey Burnworth, a spokeswoman for the state fire marshal's office, said investigators think the fire started either because something combustible was too close to a heater or because of an electrical issue.

MacKenzie's 7-year-old brother, Luke, also was at home but escaped the fire by crawling onto the roof, where neighbors rescued him. Investigators said Mr. Blunt's wife, Samantha, was at work when the fire began.

Burnworth said there were two smoke detectors in the home but neither had batteries.

larenschield@dispatch.com

Have you changed the battery in your Smoke Detector within the last 6 month's? Have you made sure that it is clean and working? Is your Smoke Detector more than 10 years old?

These are all things that we forget to do, mainly because we forget they are even there since they don't often make any noise and we don't generally look at our ceilings.

Click on this link - http://www.ubfc8.org/content/detector/ - to go to our "Smoke Detectors" page in our "Fire Prevention" section for more information about smoke detectors.

Need help with changing your batteries or you need and can't afford a smoke detector, call the fire station at (410) 775-7422, and ask for help. Our members and employees will be happy to schedule and assist you in making sure you and your family have this life saving device in your home. (Please advise the person taking your call if any special conditions exist concerning access to your smoke detectors; example - devices greater than 8' from the floor).

P.S. - With cold weather fast approaching; everyone is going to be using their furnaces, fireplaces and wood stoves in the near future. Are your heating sources ready to be used. Visit our "Fire Prevention" section for information on fire safety, escape plans, getting ready for cold weather and other prevention tips for the whole family.