MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930
mebrady@co.pg.md.us Twitter: @PGFDPIO
For the 11th
time over the past 3 months a family in Prince George’s County was alerted to a
fire in their home by a working smoke alarm.
Not just any smoke alarm, it was a working smoke alarm installed by a
firefighter just last year.
At about 7:45
pm, Tuesday, April 15, an electrical event occurred which started a fire inside
the wall of a
1-story, 1300 sq. ft. single family home in the 2500 block of
Booker T. Drive in Upper Marlboro. The
fire continued to burn and remained hidden behind the interior wall. Smoke and flames extended up the walls in
between the studs until it hit the attic where the fire grew rapidly. Smoke and heat started to bank down from the
attic into the living space below. The
occupants remained unaware of the fire.
 |
| Smoke pours from roof of home on Booker T. Drive in Upper Marlboro. Photo courtesy of Kentland VFD Facebook. |
Within moments
of smoke making it’s way into the living portion of the house two smoke alarms emitted a warning of fire. The occupants heeded the alarms
warning and escaped safely.
Firefighters
arrived quickly to find smoke coming from the house. A through search of the house confirmed no
one was inside. Firefighters spent about
15-20 minutes extinguishing the fire.
The fire was declared “accidental” and attributed to an electrical
malfunction. Fire loss is estimated at $30,000.
No civilian or
firefighter injuries were reported. Four
adult occupants will be displaced and are being assisted by the American Red
Cross with temporary living arrangements.
The family told personnel on scene that firefighters had
installed the smoke alarms in their home last year.
The Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department
has an extensive array of programs designed to improve the number of working
smoke alarms in homes. Long-standing and successful smoke alarm
programs including Post Incident Neighbor Intervention Program (PINIP) and
Pro-Active Residential Information Distribution Effort (PRIDE) are now joined
by the Departments Safety First Day of the Month and Neighbor Helping Neighbor
programs. Our efforts will continue to be ensuring homes and families are
protected by working smoke alarms. The Departments focus is the promotion and use of 10-year, tamper proof, with hush feature smoke alarms that are sure to reduce the number of fire fatalities across the Country.
This home marks the 11th time a
smoke alarm has sounded alerting occupants of the home of a fire. Having a working smoke alarm in your home
increases your chances of survival by about 50%. Home occupants also should develop a home
escape plan, identifying two ways way out of every room in your house and
designate a safe meeting place outside. Practice the plan often but at a minimum of twice a year.
Firefighters go door-to-door asking to check
smoke alarms. If one is found to be 10
years or older, not working or absent, firefighters will install a new smoke
alarm at no charge to the homeowner. The
Department also accepts requests from citizens for new smoke alarm installation
by calling 311 or 301-864-SAFE (7233).
Citizens may also request on-line by clicking here.
The free smoke alarm programs offered by our
Department are made possible by the generosity of PEPCO, IAFF PGFD Local 1619,
1-800-BOARDUP and most recently the Ladies Auxiliary of the Prince George’s County
Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association.
Despite the generous donation of smoke alarms the Department has
challenges in meeting the current demand and our supply of smoke alarms is
extremely low. Any corporation, company,
individual or group that is interested in donating smoke alarms so we can
continue to save lives like Tuesday in Upper Marlboro is asked to contact the
Office of the Fire Chief at 301-883-5200.
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