Smoke alarms save lives and the Burn Institute wants to keep you and your neighbors safe from a house fire.  The majority of fatal home fires occur at night and the smell of smoke won't always wake you up. In fact, fire produces toxic gases which can put you into a deeper sleep.  Having working smoke alarms in your home cuts your chances of dying in a house fire by 50% because it alerts you to the danger in time to escape.  National safety statistics show that adults age 65 and older are two times more likely to die in a home fire than any other segment of the population, and for those over age 75 that risk nearly quadruples.

"One way seniors can improve the chances of escaping a home fire is by making sure their home is equipped with working smoke alarms," said Susan Day, Burn Institute Executive Director.

The Burn Institute offers free smoke alarms and installation by screened and trained volunteers to seniors year-round. In 2015, nearly 1500 homes had smoke alarms installed through the program, all with 10-year lithium batteries. If you do not have working smoke alarms in your home, or would like to have them tested, contact The Burn Institute to learn how you can qualify for this free program for seniors.

Contact the Burn Institute for an appointment by calling (858) 541-2277 x 18 or email smokealarm@burninstitute.org. Homeowners and residents will be given a liability release to complete and sign authorizing access to their property for the installation of the smoke alarms.  This program is generously funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.