Clarksvillenow.com Reporting
news@clarksvillenow.com
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – American Red Cross volunteers from the Two Rivers Chapter in Clarksville will be going door-to-door in neighborhoods in the city Saturday, October 11 in an effort to help reduce house fire deaths. This comes after 53 home fires in Clarksville between 2007 and 2012, which killed or injured over 61 people, more than any other community in Tennessee at that time.
Volunteers will conduct a home fire safety checklist with residents, and if needed, will be installing free smoke alarms. Two Rivers Disaster Program Manager Larry Crowell talked about the importance of smoke detectors. More than 40% of the time, fires that cause injury or death in Clarksville are in homes where there isn’t a working smoke alarm,” said Crowell.
The Red Cross says home fires are the greatest disaster threat to families in America. Each day seven people die in fires and every 40 minutes, someone is injured. The Red Cross is taking several steps over the next few years to reduce fire deaths by 25%.
The neighborhoods in Clarksville being covered include College Street south to Riverside Drive and to the area around Mason Rudolph Golf Course. The service isn’t just for residents in Clarksville. Anyone who needs a smoke alarm can call the Red Cross for information on how to receive a free smoke alarm.
The Red Cross is also looking for volunteers to help with the effort and are working with the Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If you or your organization would like to help this Saturday, call the Red Cross at 931-645-6401.