Orange County FL: Over this past weekend, Orange County Firefighters fought a number of serious house fires.  Smoke alarms played a significant role in determining the outcome of these fires.

In the early morning hours Saturday, firefighters in the Pine Hills area raced to the scene of a house fire at 2701 Pioneer Road.  Those that had self-evacuated reported there were children trapped inside.  Firefighters fought the fire aggressively and rapidly searched the home.  Despite their best efforts, a trapped child did not survive.  The State Fire Marshal has determined the fire was not intentionally set and only one of the four apartments in the building had a working smoke alarm.

The next morning, crews were again fighting a fire in Pine Hills, this time at 6432 Lorenzo Avenue.  Neighbors reported a fully involved house fire.  This time all the occupants were out safely before first fire engine arrived.  The residents told firefighters they got out when they heard their smoke alarm.

This weekend highlights what firefighters have long advocated; working smoke alarms save lives!  Because this belief is so firmly held by the fire service worldwide, Orange County firefighters are going door to door in neighborhoods that have recently experienced a fire to offer free smoke alarms to residents that do not have them.  Over the weekend, firefighters visited over 70 homes and installed over 40 smoke alarms.  Firefighters will continue to advance this life saving campaign to be sure as many homes as possible have these life-saving devices.

If you are unsure if your smoke alarms are up to the task of saving your life, do not wait for firefighters to come to your door.  Contact Orange County Fire Rescue's Life Safety Bureau at 407-836-9081 to set up a free smoke detector check. Scheduling an appointment can be the most important appointment you will ever make.