State Fire Marshal Mike Causey organizes statewide smoke alarm canvass to prevent fire deaths

As the number of fire deaths rises in North Carolina, Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Causey has organized a team of firefighters and volunteers to be out in force this weekend -- not to battle a blaze or answer medical calls, but to distribute and install free smoke alarms in neighborhoods across the state.

On Saturday, June 5, the Office of State Fire Marshal will join forces with Kidde Fire Systems, Home Depot, and dozens of fire departments statewide for Smoke Alarm Saturday 2021 in North Carolina.

“Smoke alarms cut the chances of dying in a home fire in half, but they have to be in proper working condition in order to save your life,” said Commissioner Causey. “Smoke alarms are a key part of a home fire escape plan and our goal is to prevent fire deaths by arming our citizens with the proper knowledge and equipment.”

Fire departments across the state will participate in Smoke Alarm Saturday by going door-to-door to check homes and install new smoke alarms when necessary. Kidde Fire Systems donated 540 smoke alarms to help make this event happen.

OSFM organizers, volunteers, and fire department members will also be at five Home Depot locations across the of the state on Saturday, June 5 to encourage families to check their homes for the presence of working smoke alarms and provide information and assistance to families in need.

Here are the locations of the Home Depot stores where our teams will be stationed on Saturday from 10 a.m. - Noon:

• Asheville Home Depot, 795 Fairview Rd. Asheville, N.C. 28803
• Raleigh Home Depot, 9517 Strickland Rd., Raleigh, N.C. 27615
• Wilmington Home Depot, 210 Eastwood Rd., Wilmington, N.C. 28403
• Greensboro Home Depot, 4425 W. Wendover Ave., Greensboro, N.C. 27407
• Charlotte Home Depot, 5415 Ballantyne Commons Park, Charlotte, N.C. 28277

State Fire Marshal Mike Causey will personally take part in Smoke Alarm Saturday at the Home Depot in Charlotte from 10:00 am.- 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 5.

In conjunction with Smoke Alarm Saturday, Home Depot will be offering discounts on smoke alarms throughout the weekend, June 4-6, at all stores in North Carolina.

So far in 2021, there have been 52 fire deaths in North Carolina, and in many of those incidents, there was no working smoke alarm present. To put that in perspective, 120 people lost their lives in North Carolina because of fire in 2020.

For more information about smoke alarms and fire safety, visit the OSFM website.