The city of Orangeburg was awarded a grant by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the Department of Public Safety for a smoke detector instillation program.
Over 200 smoke alarms have been given to the department to give to the public along with providing home fire safety inspections.
"Well smoke detectors are extremely important because they provide early warning" says Jonathan Winningham, fire marshall for Orangeburg Department of Public Safety. "That early warning is what’s going to let occupants of a building know that there is a condition in their home or business that could possibly be a fire. So that early warning will allow them to get out of the building and call 911."
Authorities say most smoke alarms should be checked monthly, batteries switched out every six months and the alarm as a whole replaced every 10 years.
To find out more about receiving a new alarm and inspection call the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety at (803) 534-2812.