The Detroit Fire Department is hosting three community events this month in honor of National Fire Prevention Week.

The theme of this year’s National Fire Prevention Week — which runs Oct. 6-12 — is “Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you!”

Smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a house fire by more than 50%, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Roughly three out of five fire deaths nationwide happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or non-working smoke alarms.

While the Detroit Fire Department has installed smoke alarms for residents at no charge for years, the department is taking fire prevention a step further this year by launching a large-scale smoke alarm initiative. Detroiters attending the Fire Prevention Week events will be able to sign up to have DFD come to their home and install three to five smoke alarms, depending on size and need. The first 30 residents who sign up for installation at each event will also receive a free fire extinguisher, according to the city.

The goal is to equip between 1,000-1,600 homes in the city of Detroit with working smoke alarms.

The first event will take place from noon-3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6, at Patton Recreation Center, 2301 Woodmere, followed by events later in the week on Detroit’s west and east sides, respectively.

Detroit residents unable to attend the Fire Prevention Week events can request smoke alarm installation at their home by calling DFD’s Community Relations Division at 313-596-2900 or sending an email to communityrelations@detroitmi.gov.

Other headlines for Friday, Oct. 4, 2024:

• The general election is about a month away and early in-person voting in Michigan begins this month. Visit wdet.org/voterguide for the most up-to-date voting and election information.
• Detroit’s Mexican Irish Festival is coming back after years on hiatus. The free event will be held Oct. 13 at El Mercado, 2826 Bagley St.
• The Detroit Harvest Fest & Food Truck Rally is taking place this weekend at the Dequindre Cut Greenway.

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