WATSONVILLE — A team of American Red Cross volunteers Saturday will be installing free smoke alarms in the Bay Village neighborhood, part of a nationwide effort to increase safety and reduce the numbers of people who die in home fires.
The volunteers also spent Thursday installing them in the neighborhood.
According to Red Cross spokesperson Cynthia Shaw, someone in the U.S. dies in a home fire every seven minutes.
“We really want to reduce that number,” Shaw said.
And by Red Cross’ account, the organization has reduced them.
Shaw said that the organization has installed some 800,000 smoke alarms in homes across the U.S. The Red Cross has verified 250 cases where that installation has saved a life, Shaw said.
The installation will occur at 60 Watsonville residences.
The Red Cross has conducted the installation program for two years. Organizers identify communities based on factors such as income, fire risk and residents’ ability to install the detectors.
Volunteers will also provide fire safety education for residences, which includes checking the batteries in the smoke alarms and creating a fire escape plan.
“Most people think they have a lot more time to get out of their homes than they do,” she said. “In reality, they have about two minutes. So you should grab your loved ones, grab your pets and get out.”
Watsonville Fire Division Chief/Fire Marshal Rudy Lopez said Wells Fargo Bank donated $10,000 to aid the program.
Watsonville Fire Chief Pablo Barreto said that even small fires extinguished by residents can still burn undetected, and so they should call 911 so firefighters can make sure it’s safe.
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All smoke alarms installed in rental units must be on the State Fire Marshal’s list of approved devices. They must include:
• A display of the date of the manufacture of the device
• Provide a place on the device where the date of installation can be written
• Incorporate a hush feature
• Incorporate an end-of-life feature that provides notice that the device needs to be replaced
• Contain a non-replaceable, non-removable battery that is capable of powering the smoke alarm of 10 years. This requirement applies only if the device is battery-operated.
