Philly Fire Call Proves Importance Of Working Smoke Detectors
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Top brass in the Philadelphia Fire Department showed up late for a briefing about giving away free state-of-the-art smoke detectors, but they had good reason.
Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel was on his way, but diverted to a rowhome fire around the corner at Roosevelt Boulevard and Rising Sun Avenue. But no one was inside.
"And that home was empty, because of a smoke alarm that the Philadelphia fire department installed in an effort just like this."
A four-block stretch along Wakeling and Darrah Streets, just off Frankford Avenue, was targeted to receive updated 10-year lithium battery-powered smoke alarms for each level of the rowhomes, with funds raised by the Insurance Society of Philadelphia.
Thiel says the little devices save lives and protect property.
"Those people were out because of that functioning smoke alarm, installed by us, with a 10-year lithium battery."
Folks can get a smoke detector, installed free of charge by contacting the 3-1-1 call system.
The city has unfortunately experienced 14 fire-related deaths so far in 2016, up from 12 in all of 2015.
