Thousands of smoke detectors donated

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- News 8 is teaming up with Kidde and The Home Depot for a new campaign called "Operation Save a Life."
       
"It's great that Channel 8 and Home Depot and Kidde are supporting our efforts and our mission, or our commitment, to life safety, because they do save lives," said New Haven Fire Chief Michael Grant.

"Operation Save a Life" is a first-time collaborative in Connecticut, distributing 5,000 smoke detectors and 500 carbon monoxide detectors to low-income homes throughout the state, donated by UTC company Kidde.

"The most important thing for us is that these alarms are going in to homes where people may not have the means to otherwise be protected," said Heather Caldwell from Kidde.

News 8's own Anne Craig emceed the kickoff event, and Gil Simmons shared a scare of his own, about five years ago.

"We go to sleep. Next thing I know, I hear somebody coughing and I taste smoke," he said to the crowd.

Who knows how many lives might be saved by the donated detectors, but ask someone who's in the business of saving lives, and they like the numbers.

"Two-thirds of all fatal fires happen in homes that have either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms," Caldwell said.

The carbon monoxide detectors are meant to save people from a silent killer.

"A lot of people in your viewing area probably remember last October, that horrible ice storm that came through the Connecticut and New York areas, and there were dozens and dozens of people poisoned by carbon monoxide during those power outages," Caldwell said.

But with fall on the way and people spending more time indoors, News 8, along with some other great folks, have your back.

"Fire Prevention Week is the first week in October, and it's Fire Prevention Month, but we consider fire prevention activities every day, 365 days a year," Chief Grant said.