PELHAM – The Pelham Fire Department’s free smoke detector program is now up and running. The PFD is encouraging residents within Pelham city limits to take advantage of this opportunity.

Home owners will be provided up to three smoke detectors at no cost along with a Home Exit Plan form to be completed with their family.

Smoke detectors and their batteries are good for 10 years. Home owners are encouraged to check the age of their smoke detectors to see if they are in need of new ones. Any detector older than 10 years needs to be replaced. Furthermore, residents should check their smoke detector on the first day of every month to insure they are in good working order.

This program works in conjunction with the Alabama Fire Chief’s Turn Your Attention to Fire Prevention Campaign. The goal is to reduce the loss of life due to home fires. So far this year, 49 Alabamians have died in home fires, according to PFD Fire Chief Tim Honeycutt.

“The intent of this program is to save lives,” Honeycutt said. “Community Risk Reduction is something our department is very passionate about and we are simply doing our part to insure our citizens are safe in their own homes.”

Residents of Pelham are asked to call 620-6500 to make an installation request. Detectors will be installed Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., unless there is a request for a weekend installation.

“We’ve never lost a person to a home fire in Pelham and we don’t plan to start now,” Honeycutt said. “It’s time to step up with prevention efforts before a tragedy occurs.”