Tyler Fire Department raises awareness of outdated smoke alarms

TYLER, Texas ( KETK ) — Friday morning, some North Tyler residents may have gotten a knock on their door from city firefighters. The Tyler Fire Department and South Tyler Rotary Club partnered up to check on families and make sure that their smoke detectors were up to date.

“To know that they care,” Leslie Hilburn, North Tyler resident, said.

They call it a safety blitz, where they go door-to-door to check on smoke alarms and replace batteries for free to those who need them.

“A combination of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with a 10-year battery life on them,” Kelly Adkinson, Tyler Fire Department assistant chief, said.

In April, one person died in a house fire in the area where they were conducting the safety blitz .

“Focusing around a recent fatality fire we had and one of the causes of the fire was an non-working smoke detector,” Adkinson said.

The goal was to reach those in the community who may need a friendly reminder.

“I actually thanked them for doing that when they finished the job, but it means a lot for them to come out into the community like this and give us a hand,” Hilburn said.

Tyler FD wants people to check the date on the back of your detector, it might be time for a new one.

“If it’s 10 years old or older, go ahead and replace it,” Adkinson said.

Hillburn was grateful they had knocked on his door Friday morning because he was long overdue for a new detector.

“They took out the old one and it said ’89 on it so that’s probably not going to save too much,” Hilburn said.

Neighbors were thankful to the South Tyler Rotary Club and city firefighters.

“This house has been here for 70 years so, we’re original here, it means a lot for them to come out and do that,” Hilburn said.

“The National Fire Protection Association shows that you have a 50% better chance of survival if you have a working smoke detector in your home and those go up if you have them in your bedroom and common hallways,” Adkinson said.

Friday, July 26 they will be out again in North Tyler knocking on doors to ensure everyone’s smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are up-to-date.

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