Bluffton, SC – The Bluffton Township Fire District, in partnership with the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, SC State Fire, the Town of Bluffton, Bluffton Police Department, and Sparklight (formerly Hargray), is conducting a Smoke Alarm Blitz on Saturday, October 12, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM in the Brendan Woods neighborhood. The event is part of National Fire Prevention Week (October 6-12) and aims to improve fire safety for residents through free home safety visits and the installation of approximately 250 smoke alarms.
Fire Chief Paul Boulware emphasized the importance of this initiative:
“Home safety visits are a proven way to reduce the risk of fire injuries and deaths. By ensuring residents have working smoke alarms, we are giving them an early warning system that can make the difference between life and death in a fire emergency.”
During the blitz, teams will visit all 64 homes in Brendan Woods, offering free smoke alarms and testing existing ones to ensure they are functional and have not expired. Residents who are not home will receive a notice with contact information to reschedule a visit from the Community Risk Reduction team. Additional Bluffton residents needing smoke alarm assistance can request help via the Bluffton Township Fire District website at BlufftonFD.com.
National statistics show that while 96-97 percent of U.S. households have at least one smoke alarm, they functioned in only 52 percent of reported home fires. Working smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a fire by nearly half. Properly installed and maintained alarms play a critical role in reducing deaths, injuries, and property damage in home fires.
The smoke alarms for this event were made possible through grant funding from SC State Fire and the American Red Cross. The event will also involve support from volunteers including the Town of Bluffton and BTFD Fire Explorers. Sparklight will provide food and drinks for the community and workers, with the Bluffton Police Department cooking the meals.