GOLDEN, Colo. (KDVR) — The Golden Fire Department handed out hundreds of free smoke detectors Saturday alongside 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 cut the risk of dying in a house fire by 50%. The agency said many homes still have outdated smoke detectors, or none at all.
“It could be that a home needs one smoke alarm or it could need five,” said Andrea Miller, regional CEO of the Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming. “We want to make sure people are fully safe and aware of what they need in the home based on its size and layout.”
Twenty-four volunteers from the Red Cross, Xcel Energy, and the Golden Fire Department went door-to-door across three neighborhoods. They tested smoke alarms, offered free replacements when needed and helped families create escape plans in case of fire.
Xcel Energy volunteers also talked with residents about preparing for potential safety power shutoffs, which could occur during wildfires.
“What are things that our customers need to think about if they were to experience a power safe to shut off and have power off for any time between one day to five days,” said Hollie Velasquez Horvath, Xcel Energy’s regional vice president for state affairs and community relations. “Thinking about what you need to do to prepare for that is very, very important to Xcel and also to our customers and our families.”
The Red Cross aimed to visit about 600 homes during Saturday’s event. Nationwide, the agency estimates that in the 11 years since the program began, the installation of new smoke detectors has saved about 2,000 lives.
Golden Fire Marshal Brett Ballentine said the event also gives firefighters a chance to perform additional home safety checks.
“We also take this as an opportunity to look around the home and notice, you know, do you have a fuel-fired appliance, a gas appliance inside your home? Do you need carbon monoxide alarms?” Ballentine said. “Let us come back and provide those for you at a later time. It gives us the ability to talk about, you know, two ways out of your home, which is so critical to know.”
Fire officials remind residents to replace smoke detector batteries twice a year and replace the entire device every 10 years.
Residents who would like their smoke detectors checked or replaced can contact their local fire department or visit the Red Cross website for more information.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
