The National Fire Prevention Agency and communities across the United States are coming together to recognize the importance of home fire safety and have endorsed the theme of Fire Prevention Week as “Smoke Alarms: A sound you can live with!”

Did you know that 85% of all fire deaths occur in the home and the majority of these happen at night? Also did you know that 40% of these residential deaths occur in homes with out a smoke alarm (detector) and another 23% of these occur in homes have smoke alarms that don’t work. Smoke alarms that are properly installed can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by at least half.

With these facts in mind the fire department has joined forces with the local pizza delivery businesses to deliver the Fire Prevention Week Message. Each evening during the week, a delivery will be picked at random and the fire department will join in delivery of a pizza to a local resident. If the resident has a working smoke alarm their pizza will be free, if they do not the fire department will install one for them.
The fire department will also be visiting our schools and day care centers during fire prevention week and will be teaching our children the importance of properly maintained and installed smoke alarms and other simple safety precautions.

Your fire department looks forward every year to Fire Prevention Week and the opportunity to bring our safety message to all of the citizens of our community. The Salida Fire Department in conjunction with the South Arkansas Fire Protection District will hold our annual open house on Saturday, October 9 from 10:00am until 2:00pm. Please come by and visit with your firefighters and enjoy the festivities for both children and adults.

With the theme of Fire Prevention Week centering on smoke alarm installation and maintenance it is the time of year to change the batteries in your smoke detectors and to clean them with compressed air.Remember the batteries in your smoke detectors should be changed twice a year to ensure they will work if needed. If you have questions regarding where you should have smoke detectors in your home or need help changing the battery give the fire department a call. If you have a fire place or gas appliances in your home, you should also consider installing a carbon monoxide detector.

As the cooler weather begins to take hold remember it is time to ensure your chimney is clean before you use it. The fire department has chimney brushes available if you prefer to clean your own. These are available free of charge, although donations are accepted to allow us to replace them when necessary.
We look forward to seeing you at our open house. Don’t forget winter is just around the corner so we all need to prepare for the cold weather. Have a great fall and don’t forget to change those smoke detector batteries.