Chattooga County has seen our share of house fires.  One thing that most fatal house fires have in common, both here in our area and across the nation, is the lack of working smoke detectors in a home.

Another leading cause of house fires is improperly installed heating equipment, or the use of supplemental heating equipment.  In January of 2018 a house on Gilreath Mill Road at Cloudland burned to the ground after wind knocked a porch-door open and toppled a kerosene heater.   In October of 2016, a family of six in Trion lost their lives in a residence with an improperly installed wood heater.

There is no doubt, all of us can take this week and learn more about fire prevention.  Today kicks off “National Fire Prevention Week.”

This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety!” works to educate everyone about the different sounds the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms make. Knowing what to do when an alarm sounds will keep you and your family safe. When an alarm makes noises – a beeping sound or a chirping sound – you must take action.

You can learn more about Fire Prevention Week Here