By Carl Cattrling Jr.
SUNY Albany
COLONIE— In January, a blaze at a Locust Park home claimed the lives of three family members and left two with non-life-threatening injuries after a narrow escape.
Two months later, two more Colonie residents died when their home on Tanglewood Drive near Cook Park caught fire overnight and spread.
According to investigators, neither home had working smoke detectors. In response, Town of Colonie Fire Departments, in conjunction with the American Red Cross, launched a free smoke detector giveaway and installation program to ensure residents are protected from the kind of tragedies that have already claimed multiple lives since January.
The American Red Cross hosted a training session for firefighters last month at the Colonie Village Fire Department.
“Families have to live with the loss of loved ones,” said Mike Romano, Town of Colonie Fire Coordinator. “It’s heartbreaking to witness.”
Smoke detectors are “100% needed,” Romano added. “We’re doing installations for people that don’t have them, can’t afford, or don’t afford them. Basically, if you need one, they’ll provide it for you.”
The program and giveaway were for anyone within the fire district who didn’t own a smoke detector and needed one.
Romano said, “There have been 3 installs in 3 separate homes so far.”
“There is no end date to the giveaway. In each home most likely, two or three smoke detectors have been put into each,” said Romano.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, working smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by 60%. The majority of civilian home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarm or no working alarms.
For residents who already have smoke detectors in their homes, there are several ways to stay safe throughout the year.
“Newer models of smoke detectors have five-year batteries,” said Romano. “Depending on how old the model is, they should be changed the same time daylight savings come. I would also recommend changing the models once a year.”
Carl Cattling Jr. is a UAlbany Journalism student participating in the SUNY Institute for Local News initiative to help community journalism.
