Free smoke detectors save lives

By [email protected] | on May 19, 2023

Photo courtesy Oxnard Fire Department

Oxnard–Area residents can now get free smoke detectors, courtesy of the Oxnard Fire Department, who will come out and install them, making home a safer place.

THE Department is offering First Alert Smoke Detectors with 10-year batteries to Oxnard residents as part of its community outreach program.

Deputy Fire Marshall Blair Martin said the Fire Department has smoke detectors for households that are at risk.

Anyone who has someone living there over age 65 or anyone younger than age 14," he said. "There are areas within the City of Oxnard that are categorized as lower income, and we’ll provide free smoke detectors for them too."

He said the Fire Department comes to your home and installs a smoke detector, so the product is installed in the correct places.

Martin said FEMA, which provided the program's Grant money, provides a map of where the free smoke detectors are available by verifying the address and tracking what neighborhoods they’re going into.

"It's moderate income or low residential areas," he said. "I someone wants to call and ask if they qualify, usually we can fit them into one of those categories. 65 or older, under age 14, or in the moderate to low-income neighborhoods."

Residents who call will give the family pertinent information, including a name and number.

"We’ll fill in the information," he said. "Depending on how many there are, we’ll usually remove the old smoke detectors and place the new ones in the same spot, so it's not an eyesore in the home. The longest it would take is maybe 20 minutes."

Martin said they install whatever is needed; one in each bedroom and one in every adjacent hallway.

He noted the City experienced a Fire fatality at the end of 2022 that was directly related to the home not having smoke detectors.

"We want to make sure there is one in every bedroom to protect people sleeping at night and the other appropriate places that are needed," he said. "If something occurs, like a small Fire, people can get out and get their family members out before something tragic happens, like it did in December in Oxnard."

Martin said the smoke detectors are placed at the ceiling level, and smoke rises, so residents will be alerted quickly.

"They are a perfect tool to give you that early warning to get out and call 911," he said.

Putting one in a kitchen is not advised, he said because there are times when people burn toast or something on the stove.

"We don't want any false activations," he said. "We’ve put in as many as 8-10 in a single home. We have 700- 800 left. We’ve installed about 4,000, and we’ll keep installing them until we run out. We’re looking to getting another Grant and getting these smoke detectors provided to us."

Martin loves the program because it provides early protection and notification that keeps residents safe.

"It has saved countless lives, and providing the smoke detectors is a great thing we are doing," he said.

He worked a Fire where the smoke detector was taken down in the kitchen because it disturbed the baby, and a few people got out safely, but there were fatalities.

"That made an impact on me," he said. "Making the call to the Fire Department is easy, and we’ll take all the work out of their hands. We’ll provide them with a product that is reliable and important and enhance Fire Safety in the home."

For more information, call 805-982-7282.

You must be logged in to post a comment.