Community Risk

Smoke Alarm Prevented Tragedy in North Carolina

Jan. 21, 2013

Kannapolis fire officials credit a working smoke alarm with saving the lives of two Kannapolis residents after the alarm warned them of a fire in their home.

Source Independent Tribune, Concord, N.C.

Jan. 20--KANNAPOLIS, N.C. -- Fire officials credit a working smoke alarm with saving the lives of two Kannapolis residents after the alarm warned them of a fire in their home.

At 1:01 a.m. Thursday, the Kannapolis Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 5912 Charleston Ave. in the Kannapolis Rural District.

Fire investigators determined the fire had originated around the chimney of a wood stove, according to the Kannapolis Fire Department.

A smoke warned the occupants of the fire and smoke and they were able to make a quick escape.

The Kannapolis Fire Department and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) note smoke alarms save lives. Almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast and smoke alarms give residents more time to get out.