Firefighters with Georgetown County Fire and EMS will go door-to-door in the Lamberttown community on Feb. 25 to help make sure residents have working smoke detectors.
The “smoke detector blitz” is scheduled from 10 am. to 2 p.m. Firefighters will speak with residents at home about the importance of having working smoke detectors, and for those who need some help, they’ll not only check existing smoke detectors, but install new ones free of charge where needed.
“We really just want to make sure everybody is safe,” said Michael Morris, fire inspector for the department. “A working smoke detector can make all the difference in a fire when it comes to making sure you and your family get out safely.”
The department scheduled the event in response to a tragic house fire in December that claimed a life. It also hosted a smoke detector blitz in 2021 following a fatal fire. At that time, it installed nearly 100 smoke detectors in 24 homes.
“When you have a fatality or a bad fire in your neighborhood, people are a little more apt to be receptive of public safety messaging and take things more seriously,” said Lt. Dale Hewitt, who headed up the 2021 blitz. “We had a lot of people say, ‘yeah, come on in,’ and who were really glad of the help.”
Firefighters hope residents will be similarly receptive this time around and that the blitz might help prevent future tragedies.
Anyone who needs assistance installing or checking smoke detectors in their home should contact their local fire department.