SAVANNAH, GA (Wednesday, October 3, 2018) – At 2:57 p.m. Wednesday, October 3, Savannah Fire was dispatched to an apartment fire at 28 Thackery St. Residents in an upstairs apartment reported smoke coming from the apartment below. Firefighters arrived on scene within two minutes at 2:59 p.m. No one was in the bottom apartment. The residents in the apartment above escaped on their own unharmed. Savannah Fire quickly extinguished the blaze. The residents of both the upstairs and downstairs apartments – three adults and two children - were displaced.

This was the second fire at 28 Thackery St. in one week. The first on October 1 and the second on October 3. Both fires appear to have been caused by burning incense.

The October 3 fire damaged the wall and subfloor of a ground floor apartment and impacted the apartment above it. Five adults and two children were displaced as a result.

The October 1 fire occurred when an incense ember dropped onto a dry mop. The fire alarm alerted the sleeping resident to the blaze.

After every fire Savannah Fire conducts a fire blitz in the neighborhood, offering to install a smoke alarm in homes that don’t have them and test and replace batteries in those that already have working smoke alarms. Smoke alarms provide residents with extra time to escape a fire before it spreads. If no one is home during our fire blitz Savannah Fire leaves a door knocker with details on how to obtain a free smoke detector and home fire safety survey, which helps homeowners identify potential fire safety hazards.

In addition to installing smoke alarms to alert you to a fire, residents should:

·         Test smoke alarm batteries monthly by pushing the alarm’s test button

·         Replace smoke alarm batteries at least once a year

·         Replace all smoke alarms after 10 years or if they don’t respond when tested

·         When the smoke alarm sounds, get out and stay out

 When burning candles or incense remember to:

·         Use a stable holder designed to catch wax and embers

·         Never leave burning candles or incense unattended

·         Keep them out of the reach of children and pets

·         Place them at least 3 feet away from flammables and never burn them in windows.

·         Keep clothing away from flames and embers

·         Dip the burning tip of incense in water and break it off

 If you own your home and do not have a working smoke alarm, Savannah Fire will change the batteries or install a new one at no charge. Call 912-651-6756 for more information.