Red Cross to Distribute Free Smoke Detectors

April 06--Working smoke alarms and an escape plan are keys to fire safety and saving lives, according to officials preparing a campaign to install detectors in Oneonta homes Saturday.

The area American Red Cross of the Mohawk Valley is working with the Oneonta Fire Department, the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scouts, Oneonta Common Council members, the Oneonta Family YMCA, students from the State University College at Oneonta and others supporting the initiative, organizers said.

The Home Fire Campaign in Oneonta will be from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., organizers said.

More than 60 volunteers have signed up to help, according to Mallory Scheve, executive director of the area Red Cross chapter. More volunteers are welcome, according to Scheve, who said she expected to have about 80 volunteers helping Saturday.

The Oneonta Home Fire Campaign is part of a national five-year effort by the American Red Cross to reduce home-fire deaths, Scheve said. The national project started in 2014 and officials estimated more than 150 lives have been saved, including some at an apartment building in Utica in December 2015 because smoke detectors were installed, she said.

After a home fire starts, residents have 2 minutes to escape, Scheve said.

"That's why having a working smoke alarm is important," she said.

Oneonta Fire Chief Patrick Pidgeon said the smoke detectors to be installed are the type with 10-year lithium batteries. Firefighters have been finding that residents have older-style detectors that aren't functioning or lack batteries, he noted.

The goal of the campaign is to promote fire safety and to prevent fire-related deaths, Pidgeon said.

"We're trying to be proactive," Pidgeon said. "We're looking for people to help."

Some residents already have signed up for installations, organizers said, but registration still is possible through the Red Cross, and volunteers will be going door to door on Saturday, knocking to inquire if residents are interested in the program.

To register or inquire about alarm installations, including on Saturday, call (518) 694-5121 and leave a message, organizers said. More information and online registrations are available at www.redcross.org/oneontaHFC.

Volunteers will work out of the "Command Center" at the Center Street School building at 31 Center St., Pidgeon said. Volunteers will meet at the school starting at 8 a.m. and a 20-minute training session will begin at 9 a.m. before groups of three are formed to make the visits, he said.

Volunteers will install at least 250 free smoke alarms for families, according to a flier. The installation visit also includes a brief education session on fire safety tips, organizers said, and team members will help residents create escape plans.

To register to help with the campaign Saturday, call the American Red Cross of the Mohawk Valley at (315) 733-4666, officials said.

The campaign will concentrate on Center City and address requests made from residents at local trailer parks, Pidgeon said, and efforts will be made to reach homes in the West End, East End and River Street and other areas.

Pidgeon said to have alarms installed, a resident will have to be the property owner or have permission from the landlord.

Denise Richardson, staff writer, may be reached at (607) 441-7213 or at drichardson@thedailystar.com. Follow her on Twitter at @DS_DeniseR

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