Free smoke detectors available for all ROCs

The National Manufactured Home Owners Association (NMHOA) is teaming up with the American Red Cross to offer free smoke detectors to residents of any resident-owned community.

It’s very clear-cut:  Smoke alarms save lives. According to the National Fire Protection Association, smoke spreads quickly in home fires and residents need smoke alarms to provide time to get out. Having a working smoke alarm cuts the chances of dying in a reported fire in half, and almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

Any ROC interested in arranging for free smoke detectors for residents should reach out to Ishbel Dickens, executive director of NMHOA, at ishbel@nmhoa.org. Dickens will connect ROCs with the right people at the Red Cross who can help.

Smoke detectors should be installed in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of every home. They should be tested every month and replaced every 10 years. When a smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside.

For more about smoke detectors, visit the National Fire Protection Association’s website.

For an example of this program in action, read this article from the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin in Ontario, Calif.