golden, COLORADO (KDVR) – The Golden Fire Department handed out hundreds of free smoke detectors Saturday along with volunteers from the American Red Cross and Xcel Energy as part of a community safety effort aimed at helping residents prepare for disasters.
The Red Cross said working smoke detectors can reduce the risk of death in a house fire by 50%. The agency said many homes still have old smoke detectors, or none at all.
“A home may need one smoke alarm or it may need five,” said Andrea Miller, regional executive director of the Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming. “We want to make sure people are completely safe and aware of what they need in a home based on its size and design.”
Twenty-four volunteers from the Red Cross, Xcel Energy and the Golden Fire Department went door-to-door in three neighborhoods. They tested smoke alarms, provided free replacements when needed and helped families make escape plans in the event of a fire.
Xcel Energy volunteers also spoke with residents about safely preparing for potential power outages, which may occur during wildfires.
“What are the things our customers need to think about if they are going to experience a safe power outage and power outage for anywhere from one to five days,” said Holly Velasquez Horvath, Xcel Energy’s regional vice president of state affairs and community relations. “Thinking about what you need to do to prepare for this is very important for Xcel and also for our customers and families.”
The Red Cross aims to visit about 600 homes during Saturday’s event. Nationally, the agency estimates that in the 11 years since the program began, the installation of new smoke detectors has saved about 2,000 lives.
The event also gives firefighters a chance to conduct additional home safety checks, Golden Fire Marshal Brett Ballentine said.
“We also take this opportunity to look around the house and see, you know, do you have a fuel-powered appliance, or a gas-powered appliance inside your house? Do you need carbon monoxide alarms?” said Ballentine. “Let’s come back and give you these things later. This gives us the ability to talk about two ways out of your house, which is crucial for you to know.”
Fire officials remind residents to replace smoke detector batteries twice a year and to replace the entire device every 10 years.
Residents who want to have their smoke detectors checked or replaced can call their local fire department or visit the site Red Cross website For more information.