Recently, there have been several deadly fires across Louisiana. With temperatures dropping across the region, it’s important to be sure your home is prepared for the cold weather. Louisiana State Fire Marshall Byan Adams emphasizes the importance of having a properly working smoke alarm in your home during this time of year to prevent a fire in the home from becoming a greater tragedy.
“We had 2 calls over the weekend with 4 fatalities,” Adams noted. “That brings us to 68 lives lost and 50 calls this calendar year. This time last year, we had 51. That means we’re already 17 ahead of the busiest season of the year,” he added.
With many homes across Louisiana lacking central heating, residents across the state tend to get “creative” when it comes to staying warm. That’s especially true in older homes that lack insulation, where space heaters may be too close to bedding and furniture while plugged into sockets that may not be trustworthy.
Fire departments and the State Fire Marshall’s office are offering free smoke alarms for those in need as temperatures plunge. Adams emphasized that most Louisiana fire departments participate in this program and will actually help to make sure your devices are safely installed.
“You call your local fire department, and they’ll come out and install it for you. They’ll get an alarm put in for you ahead of the winter,” he pointed out.
Adams discourages putting beds, blankets, or other flammables near any fireplaces and urges Louisiana residents not to overload power plugs with too many devices. This is especially true in older homes where wiring may be aging or faulty.