So far this winter six Maryland residents have died in house fires, and authorities say most of the victims did not have working smoke alarms in their homes. On Friday the Maryland state fire marshal issued a reminder to residents to install working alarms, and safety precautions to take with fireplaces.
If you cannot afford a smoke alarm contact your local fire department to see if available in your area, said State Fire Marshal Brian S. Geraci in a news release.
"Fire and life safety is everyone's responsibility; by testing smoke alarms and CO detectors, keeping exits clear of obstructions, and maintaining fire alarms and fire sprinkler systems, we can all avoid injury or death from the effects of fire," Geraci said.