The city of Hurricane is offering free smoke detectors to residents who need them.
Hurricane Mayor Scott Edwards said the goal of Project SAFE (Smoke Alarms for Everyone) is to ensure all Hurricane residents are prepared for a fire in their homes.
"Hopefully [we can] save a life and property," Edwards said. "We want to protect lives. We don't want to see someone get hurt or killed by a fire they could have escaped if they had a $20 smoke detector."
Edwards said to qualify for a free smoke detector you have to be a resident in the city of Hurricane and not rent from a landlord.
He said there is no set income to qualify for the program, and people have been honest about their needs so far.
"If you look me in the eye and say you can't afford it, then we'll give you one," Edwards said. "We want to make sure people and their families are protected."
The city has two paid firefighters who will come to the residence, assess how many smoke detectors are needed and then install them free of charge. Edwards said residents should have smoke detectors in hallways, each bedroom and the kitchen.
"A lot of people think you can just have one smoke detector somewhere and that's OK, but it's not," Edwards said.
The smoke detectors were donated by Boy Scout troops, local businesses and personal donations.
The smoke detectors will be available while supplies last. Edwards said he hopes the city runs out of its "couple hundred" smoke detectors so he knows people are safe. Then city leaders can find means to get more smoke detectors.
"I really want to run out," Edwards said. "I want to get more money from people and buy more. If we run out, that's a great thing."
Edwards said the city will continue to take donations, whether it's money to buy smoke detectors or physical smoke detectors.
"If there's a business out there that really wants to know where their money goes, a business could donate $500 and donate 40 smoke detectors - talk about making a difference," Edwards said.
Rob Savage, fire chief of Hurricane Volunteer Fire Department, said he thinks it's great that the city is giving out the detectors free of charge.
"[Having smoke detectors] reduces the number of fire fatalities; we haven't had one for several years," he said.
Savage said homeowners should check smoke detectors at least once a month and change the batteries during daylight saving time in the fall and spring.
To request a free smoke detector, call Hurricane City Hall at 304-562-5896.
Reach Laura Haight at
laura.haight@wvgazettemail.com,
304-4843 or follow
@laurahaight_ on Twitter.