Firefighters team with Action News to promote fire safety

NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Firefighters from across the area teamed up with Action News on Thursday to promote fire safety in Northeast Philadelphia.

For the past 23 years, this has been a Philadelphia tradition to promote the Operation 6abc Save-A-Life Campaign.

The goal is to make sure every home has working smoke alarms.

This year, Kidde has donated 10,000 lithium battery smoke alarms.

The smoke alarms are good for ten years.

Over 150 fire companies are participating from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware to make sure the smoke alarms get into the homes of families that need them.

Fire officials say it over and over again, but that's because it is true. Smoke alarms save lives.

They hope being able to give them to people for free, will make sure anyone who needs one will get one.

Fire Commissioner, Derrick Sawyer says, "The other important piece is to make sure that everyone has a way to get out, has their home escape plan. So, when the alarm wakes you in the middle of the night, when most fires occur, you have a way out."

All of this is not possible without the help of our very generous sponsors, Kidde, Tri-State Toyota Dealers Association, Home Depot and American Water Resources.

If you need a smoke alarm for your home, contact your local fire company.

They will many times come out and install it for you.

Also, Home Depot will be hosting their Kidde Save-A-Life event on Saturday, February 7th.

You can stop by the Fire Academy and pick up a smoke alarm for free.