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Project S.A.F.E. Smoke Alarm Saves Life Of Ironton Man
< < Back toA smoke alarm implemented by Project S.A.F.E. likely saved an Ironton man's life.
State Fire Marshal's Office Officials say Mike Clarence Markin was able to escape a fire that broke out on the other side of the duplex he resides in last week, moments before fire burst through the doors and windows.
A Project S.A.F.E. smoke alarm was installed in the duplex three months earlier.
Ironton Fire Chief Tom Runyon says, "There is no doubt that the smoke alarm helped save a life. Another minute and both of Mr. Markin's escape routes would have been blocked."
Officials say the fire alarm in the other side of the duplex alerted Markin of the fire.
Project S.A.F.E. is a program run by the State Fire Marshal's Office that allows Ohio fire departments to put smoke alarms into the homes of people who need them.
Reasons include not being able to afford one or being elderly, among many other reasons.
Shane Cartmill from the Ohio Division of State Fire Marshal says this is proof that smoke alarms save lives.
"We do know that a smoke alarm doubles your chances of escaping a fire, so the more homes that we can get smoke alarms into, the better," says Cartmill.
Cartmill says recent statistics show up to 90 percent of fires with fatalities or injuries occur in homes with no working smoke alarms.