HFD encouraging residents to check smoke detectors

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - In the wake of the two children who died in Greenville, Mississippi after a fire took their lives, Hattiesburg firefighters are encouraging residents to check their smoke detectors.

Battalion Chief Fire Marshal Stephen Mooney said a smoke detector is one of the factors that can save someone's life.

“You’re 50% more likely to be saved or not injured if you have a working properly installed smoke detector in your home than without" said Mooney.

The department said without a working smoke detector they cannot rush to an emergency call.

Mooney said, " Yearly on average 7 people die each day across the nation in residential home first, approximately 12,000 are injured, this is a much greater problem than we think of in a daily basis.”

A smoke detector is one of the basic factor's that can save a person's life, but Mooney said to consider the following too:

1. Have an emergency plan with a designated meeting place with all members of the family.

2. Have an "Exit" drill in the home (one for the morning and night)

3. Consider an automatic monitored alarmed system

4. Fire sprinkler system

For more information on a fire escape plan you can click here.