Smoke detectors save lives. That’s why the Whitfield County Fire Department and American Red Cross – with help from Whitfield County Community Emergency Response Team volunteers – will be going door to door this month to provide and install 500 smoke detectors in local homes .
The drive will be conducted on two Saturdays, June 13 and 20, according to Whitfield County Fire Department Lt. Chris West.
“We will team up as stations and go door to door to see who is in need of their smoke detectors changed or new installs made,” Mr. West said. “Any volunteers or off-duty personnel who would like to participate would be greatly appreciated.”
Stations 1, 2, and 10 will target Frontier Trail, Santa Fe Trail, Overland Trail, Cheyenne Trail, Cattleman Drive, Chisholm Trail NW, Chisholm Circle, Abilene Trail, Tellico Drive, Rolling Meadows Road, Discovery Lane, Jefferson Drive and Crystal View Court.
Stations 3 and 8 will visit Wooten Drive, Gay Street, Scobie Avenue, Mary Lane, Dowing Street, Crook Road, Maria Drive, Stanley Street, Nashville Street, Jeff Drive, Jerome Drive, Robbie Drive, Eric Court, Lyle Lane, Tommy Drive, Chris Drive and Old Glade Road (from Walnut to By-Pass).
Stations 4 and 5 will go to Shady Drive, New Drive, Lillian Drive, Smith Springs Drive, Spring Hill Road, Cox Road, City View Road, Waco Drive, Randolph Way, Waverly Drive, East Ezzard Avenue, Dale Avenue, Old Rome Road, Douglas Street SE, Belle Avenue, Fannie Street, Sagebrush Way, Mayo Street, Arnold Street and Maurine Drive.
Stations 6, 7, and 9 will help West School Street, South Lakeshore Drive, Handcar Way, North and South Center Street, South Midway Drive, McCauley Drive, North and South Cherokee Circle, North Lakeshore Drive, Academy Street, Montgomery Drive, East School Street, Cemetery Street, Jordan Street and Smith Circle.
The effort is part of the American Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, which aims to save lives, reduce injuries and build more resilient communities through raising awareness, facilitating preventative actions, and fostering community participation.
The national goal is a 25 percent reduction in home fire deaths over the next five years.
The campaign has already been truly lifesaving; since its launch in October, at least seven lives have been saved as a result of residents being alerted to a home fire by campaign-installed smoke alarms, said officials.