There have been two deadly house fires in Tucson in less than a week.
A mobile home fire near Romero and Flowing Wells killed an elderly man and his cat Friday morning. Earlier in the week, another man died in a house fire near 36th and La Cholla. Firefighters say the lack of working smoke detectors contributed to the deaths
Meanwhile, the Tucson Fire Department is on a mission to prevent any more deadly house fires. Officials want to emphasize the importance of having working smoke alarms and an escape plan. They say if a fire starts in your home you may have as little as two minutes to escape. So, having a plan that has been practiced regularly can save lives.
Fire officials say you should draw a map of your home that shows all doors and windows and find two ways out of each room. You should also pick a meeting place outside, and it most probably should be in front of your home.
It is also important to make sure your home has smoke alarms. Tucson Fire says smoke detectors should:
- be installed in every level of your home
- tested every month.
- if they're not working, change the batteries.
Most importantly, if a fire occurs in your home, get out, stay out and call for help. Never go back inside for anything or anyone.
Meanwhile, the department will continue its safety education in the city. It will install more than 10,000 smoke alarms throughout the city..
