MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) — Michigan has a problem: it has consistently ranked among states with the highest number of fatal fires in the nation.
So far in 2019, 32 people have died from residential fires in the state.
For most people, getting a smoke detector was never a problem. If you couldn't afford one, there was always a giveaway program.
The problem, once the detector is up, is forgotten.
But even of you change the batteries, smoke detectors are only effective for about 10 years.
“Within the last week I found that out. I never knew that,” said Tracy Wiersma of Muskegon, who took advantage of the American Red Cross Sound the Alarm, Safe a Life program.
Beyond homeowners forgetting to change the detectors, there was a bigger problem with the giveaway programs.
“People had the best of intentions. They take it home. They leave it in the box. It will sit on the counter a week or two, and then it ends up in the drawer, then it's gone forever,” said Nikki Salladay, who is the disaster program manager for the American Red Cross of West Michigan.
The Red Cross is one of several groups are trying to reduce Michigan’s fatal fire numbers by installing detectors with ten-year batteries and educating residents on how react to a fire, and avoid one altogether.
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