Monitored smoke alarm pays off for local resident

Extensive damage and possible injuries were prevented Saturday when the monitored smoke alarm of a home
security system summoned firemen to a New Albany residence.

At about noon Saturday, May 11, the New Albany Fire Department (NAFD) was sent to the
residence at 306 Cole St., without anyone making a phone call. Instead the smoke alarm in a
professionally monitored home security system detected smoke and automatically alerted the 911
emergency dispatch system.

A NAFD fire fighting crew arrived quickly and was met at the front door by the disabled resident
of the house. Firemen quickly removed her from the structure. She told them there was a fire on
her cook stove. As a precaution, they summoned an ambulance from Baptist Memorial Hospital-
Union County.

In the meantime firemen entered the house. The fire was extinguished. Due to the smoke alarm, damage was minimal.

There were no injuries and the ambulance returned to the hospital.

“This is a prime example of why it is so important for all homes, especially those with young
children or elderly adults, to have working smoke alarms,” said Assistant NAFD Chief Mark
Whiteside. “Let me take this opportunity to say please check your alarms. If you need some
installed, call us here at the fire department at 662-534-1000.”