Even though the summer months are not typically a time when structure or house fires occur, the Russellville Fire Department doesn’t want residents to become complacent when fire safety is concerned.

Russellville Fire Chief Joe Mansell said his department has several boxes of smoke detectors available free of charge to city residents who need one and a firefighter will even come to a resident’s house to install it properly.

“When our smoke detector project first started, we were just giving them to our elderly residents and those on a fixed income,” Mansell said.

“With the help of the city and Sen. [Roger] Bedford, we’ve been able to expand this project to include anyone in the city who doesn’t have a smoke detector or who needs their old one replaced with the ones we have that will last up to 10 years.

“Our goal is to have at least one working smoke detector in every house in the city of Russellville.”

Mansell said the fire department mainly deals with grass or woods fires during the hot summer months, but he said a structure fire can happen at any time.

“You never know when some wiring can go bad or a candle left burning can tip over and catch the house on fire,” Mansell said.

“I hate for these smoke detectors to just sit here at the station when the could be in someone’s house and potentially save a life.

“I don’t want to have a fire fatality because someone didn’t have a smoke detector to alert them and get them out of the house in time.”

Mansell added that anyone who might be concerned about potential fire hazards in their home or business can contact the fire department and trained officials will do a walk-through.

“We just want to make sure everyone is staying safe and being smart,” Mansell said.

To speak to someone about the smoke detector program or to have an inspection done, contact the RFD at 256-332-8761.