Jackson Fire Department and Red Cross volunteers install free smoke alarms

JACKSON, Tenn. –After two fatal fires since the beginning of the year, local officials are doing what they can to prevent that from happening.

The Jackson Fire Department is teaming up with the Red Cross in their “Stay Alive” initiative to reach around 400 families in the two areas of the fatal fires, East Jackson and Bemis.

Crews worked to install free smoke alarms in homes, check on batteries, and educate the homeowners on fire safety.

“In an average home fire you have about 2 minutes to get out safely. If you think about kids and pets and older relatives, that can be overwhelming and so we want to make sure that you guys are prepared before that happens,” Heather Carbajal with the American Red Cross said.

The Red Cross also educated residents about fire safety, tornado safety, and what to do during a disaster.

They installed around 70 smoke alarms across the Hub City Saturday.