Smoke alarms produce the sound nobody wants to hear. But where there's smoke, there's fire as the saying goes. And when that smoke alarm is set off, it's your sign to get to safety.
However, the North Carolina Department of Insurance says there are already fire-related deaths this year, 54 to be exact. Most of those cases saw houses without working alarms, the department said.
This weekend, fire departments across the state geared up for an important mission: to make sure homes have working fire alarms. The Charlotte Fire Department was part of the initiative, and it was timely; an early morning house fire Saturday tore through a trailer home on Old Plank Road, and crews believe it was intentionally set. For State Fire Marshal Mike Causey, timeliness is key for everyone involved in a fire, especially those at home when the flames break out, and he says it's why everyone needs to make sure they have a working smoke alarm.