NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- The City of North Myrtle Beach Fire Department will be partnering with the South Carolina State Fire Marshal’s Office and the American Red Cross to conduct a Smoke Alarm Installation Blitz on Tuesday, March 5, starting around 4 PM until 7 PM.
Residents who live in Creekside Mobile Home Park off of Little River Neck Road will notice Fire Department vehicles and personnel in the area on Tuesday, March 5, starting around 4 PM until 7 PM. Each home
visit should last no longer than 15-20 minutes.
During this blitz, North Myrtle Beach Firefighters, members of the South Carolina State Fire Marshal’s Office, and volunteers from the American Red Cross will have smoke alarms to provide and install for residents, who will also receive information regarding Hurricane Evacuation routes.
Prior to this event, volunteers from the American Red Cross will be visiting the neighborhood on Saturday, March 2 to knock on doors in the target area and leave door hangers informing residents they will return to check homes and install smoke alarms on Tuesday, March 5. If a resident will not be home on the day of the blitz, they may call the number on the door hanger to schedule a different time for someone to come back. Appointments for the day of the blitz may also be made in advance by calling the American Red Cross at 843-410-3228.
The North Myrtle Beach Fire Department Community Risk Reduction Officer, Andrew West, states, "All residents of our City should be checking the smoke alarms in their homes, as well, to ensure they are in working order. Any alarms that are more than 10 years old should be replaced. City residents that are not a part of this upcoming blitz can reach out to the City’s Fire Marshal’s Office by calling 843-663-8610 to schedule a smoke alarm install. Our Fire Department will gladly come out to assist in installation of smoke alarms purchased on your own. We also offer free smoke alarms for City residents in need."
So far in 2024, there have been 9 home fire fatalities in South Carolina. There were 55 reported home fire fatalities in 2023 throughout the state. While the City of North Myrtle Beach has not seen a home fire fatality in over 15 years, there have been numerous family pets lost and individuals who have suffered injuries from burns and smoke inhalation from residential fires.
Fire Chief Billy Floyd reiterates, “One fire death is one too many. Coordinated events, such as this blitz, allow us to put action to our Department’s Mission Statement, which reads, 'The North Myrtle Beach Fire Department is dedicated to saving lives, protecting property, and making our community a safer place to live and visit.'”