Escambia County Fire Rescue Risk Reduction Report: April & May 2025

In an effort to further educate Escambia County residents and visitors about the importance of having functioning smoke detectors, Escambia County Fire Rescue has implemented a monthly risk reduction report that shares the number of fire-related calls ECFR responded to where the home or business did not have functioning smoke detectors.

Incident Report Summaries for April & May 2025:

• April 10: ECFR responded to a residential structure fire. Smoke alarms in the adjacent garage apartment alerted residents in the home where there were no smoke alarms. The fire started in the garage apartment from a malfunctioning dehumidifier and was extinguished by ECFR. No injuries reported.
• May 11: ECFR responded to a residential structure fire. Smoke alarms alerted residents of a kitchen fire. Residents were safely evacuated from the home, and ECFR extinguished the fire. No injuries reported.
• May 18: Smoke alarms alerted occupants of a stovetop fire of a commercial structure. The occupants extinguished the fire with fire extinguishers upon the arrival of ECFR. No injuries reported.
• May 31: ECFR responded to a commercial structure fire. The fire sprinkler system activated and knocked down the fire. The smoke alarms alerted over 20 residents, who were all able to evacuate before the fire department’s arrival. An operational sprinkler system and working smoke alarms saved lives and property during this fire. No injuries reported.

Smoke Alarms Save Lives!

The purpose of the report is to share the importance of having functional smoke detectors inside a home or business. Properly installed and maintained smoke detectors play a vital role in reducing deaths and injuries.

Did You Know:

• Roughly three out of five deaths happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
• More than one-third (38 percent) of home fire deaths result from fires in which no smoke alarms are present.
• The risk of dying in a home fire is cut in half in homes with working smoke alarms

*Information provided by NFPA.org.

Smoke Detector Safety Tips:

• Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room and outside each separate sleeping area. Install alarms on every level of the home. Install alarms in the basement.
• It is best to use interconnected smoke alarms so that when one smoke alarm sounds, they all sound.
• Test all smoke alarms at least once a month. Press the test button to be sure the alarm is working.
• A closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire.
• Working smoke alarms are an important part of a home fire escape plan.

Escambia County Fire Rescue has a program to provide and install FREE smoke alarms. For information about obtaining a home smoke alarm, call 850-595-HERO (4376). City of Pensacola residents may call 850-436-5200 for assistance with obtaining a smoke alarm.