The Sedalia-Pettis County United Way has teamed up with the American Red Cross to provide and install smoke alarms for area residents. State of the art alarms will be installed in homes that have old or missing smoke detectors.

“Something that we’re doing this year is installing smoke detectors with the American Red Cross in our rural communities in Pettis County,” said Staci Harrison, Executive Director of the Sedalia-Pettis County United Way. “We want to appeal to the community to please sign up in the northwest area, Green Ridge, Smithton and La Monte.”

American Red Cross representative Greg Johns personally experienced the life-saving effect of smoke alarms when his home caught fire back in the ‘80s.

“It was Jan. 18, 1983 and my wife was nine months pregnant,” Johns said. “She was going to have the baby any day. We were in the back bedroom of our mobile home on Anderson School Road. All of a sudden, our smoke alarm went off and we got up and there was smoke all through the trailer. I found out that the fire started underneath the sink. We got it out.”

According to Johns, the fire started when a mouse scratched some matches that were stored under the sink.

“A smoke alarm saved us,” Johns said. “Three days later she had the baby.”

The American Red Cross encourages residents to create and practice a fire escape plan and to have properly functioning smoke alarms. According to the American Red Cross, statistics have shown that smoke alarms save 50 percent of lives.

“That’s what we’re trying to do here is save lives and property in Pettis County,” Johns said. “The smoke alarms we’re giving away and installing are 10 year smoke alarms. If you have smoke alarms in your home that are more than five years old, more than likely the sensor doesn’t work.”

Residents signing up for the service can set an appointment for the installation. This service is available to anyone in the surrounding areas. Residents wishing to sign up can call their local fire department or the American Red Cross in Sedalia at (660) 827-0618.

“This thing we’re doing now with fire alarms is very important,” Johns said. “Last year we had 28 disastrous fires in the Pettis County area. So, we really want to get this out so people have smoke alarms in their homes. There is approximately one disaster every eight minutes. Out of those, fires are the worst.”

Harrison and Johns will be at the Green Ridge Recreation Department this evening from 5 to 7 p.m. to sign up area residents for the free smoke alarms. Local schools also have signup sheets. For more information, contact Staci Harrison at the United Way office by calling (660) 826-2980.

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