PHOENIX — Phoenix Fire Department is reminding residents to properly use smoke detectors in the wake of a house fire that claimed the life of a 10-month-old baby earlier this month.
Fire officials say smoke detectors inside a home near 35th and Glendale avenues were not functioning properly when the home caught fire on May 2.
Video in the player above shows ABC15 coverage of the original incident.
The fire left an infant in critical condition with severe burns and sent a young girl and a man to the hospital for smoke inhalation.
Officials say the baby has since died from its injuries.
The cause of the fire has not yet been disclosed.
Phoenix Fire and community partners will be hosting a “Smoke Alarm Walk” on Saturday morning in the neighborhood. Crews will be educating the community on the use and maintenance of smoke alarms and hope to install 100 new alarms in homes.
The City of Phoenix offers the following tips and facts regarding smoke detector use and fire safety:
- Test your smoke alarms at least once a month by using the alarms' "test button."
- Replace the batteries in your smoke alarms once a year, or as soon as the alarm "chirps," warning that the battery is low. Helpful hint: schedule battery replacements for the same day every year, such as your birthday.
- Regularly vacuuming or dusting your smoke alarm following manufacturer's instructions can help keep it working properly.
- Replace your smoke alarms once every 10 years.
- If you don't know exactly how old your smoke alarms are, you should replace them just to be safe.
- Your family's chances of surviving a home fire DOUBLE when there are working smoke alarms in the home.
- Most deadly fires in America occur during the night, between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- Purchase the correct number of smoke alarms you need for your home.
