By Rick Orlov
The Daily News
LOS ANGELES — Standing in front of the charred remains of a South Los Angeles home where one person died in July apparently because there was no working smoke alarm, Mayor Eric Garcetti and fire officials on Monday began a new effort to get the devices into homes.
“My back-to-basics agenda for Los Angeles is about focusing City Hall on our most important priorities, and emergency preparedness is at the top of that list,” Garcetti said. “Smoke alarms save lives, so we are spreading the word and making sure Angelenos know that we have smoke detectors available for free.”
There have been 20 structure fire-related fatalities in the city so far this year, 16 of which had no working smoke alarm, Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas said.
Working with First Alert Inc., an Aurora, Ill.-based fire alarm company, up to 500 free smoke alarms a month have been donated to the city since last year. Fire officials estimated they have already given out 2,500 of the alarms at the 106 fire stations. The alarms have a retail value of under $26.
In addition to the alarms, Terrazas said the LAFD is beginning a pilot program in Watts to expand its smoke alarm education program to include regular neighborhood fire safety education. It will be expanded citywide after it is analyzed.
Also, Terrazas announced the creation of the LAFD Fire Casualty Reduction Task Force. It will be staffed by personnel from the LAFD’s Emergency Services Bureau, Arson, Fire Prevention, Disaster Preparedness and Community Liaison units.
It will examine the data around any residential structural fire in which there is an injury or death and brief Terrazas within 72 hours.
“This will help identify trends or circumstances that may be useful in preventing future tragedies,” Terrazas said.
“While there are many contributing factors to residential fire fatalities, it’s a simple fact that smoke alarms save lives,” Terrazas said. “The LAFD is committed to continuing the critical task of keeping Angelenos safe and working with the community.”
First Alert has been donating smoke alarms for decades to fire departments around the country, said spokeswoman Debbie Hanson.
“It is part of our core mission to work with fire departments to try to reduce fatalities,” Hanson said. “We are in the safety business and try to help fire departments. We have been working in Los Angeles for several years and with the LAFD for a couple of years.”
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