Red Cross and Dunbar firefighters install free smoke detectors in Dunbar

DUNBAR, WV (WCHS/WVAH) — In 2016 alone 15 people died in house fires in West Virginia. Several of those homes had no working smoke detectors. Dunbar firefighters say you have less than two minutes to escape a burning house alive. Saturday The Red Cross and the Dunbar Fire Department teamed up for a friendly daylight saving reminder.

Door to door volunteers went knocking to install smoke detectors with 10 year battery lives. Red Cross Executive Officer Erica Mani said they installed a total of 90 detectors in 29 homes across Dunbar.

"We don't just hand out these smoke alarms," Mani said. "That leaves the potential to find them after a house fire sitting in a drawer not doing their job. We want to make sure they are installed properly. We know neighbors trust their local fire department to install them correctly."

Alarm batteries should be tested once a month. The batteries should be replaced once a year. Firefighters recommend daylight saving time to change the batteries in all detectors in your home.

Wendy Shindler said she owes her life to the simple beep of a smoke detector. She just installed detectors in her home a few months before it went up in flames.

"I came out from the fire with nothing but the clothes on my back," Shindler said. "The Red Cross was there to help me within a few hours of the fire. If it weren't for that smoke detector I wouldn't be here today."

A home should get all new smoke alarms every 10 years. Each alarm should be placed on the ceiling or high on a wall because smoke rises. If you do not have working smoke detectors it takes one phone call to The Red Cross to get them. Call 1-844-216-8286 to schedule an appointment