VIDEO: Firefighters are urging residents to practice nighttime evacuation drills during Fire Safety Week after two elderly men died in separate house fires in Alpine Township within weeks. Alpine Township Deputy Fire Chief Jeremy Kelly said smoke detectors alone wonโt save lives without an escape plan.
โWith my kids, Iโve set our smoke detectors off in the middle of the night and had them evacuate the house to get out so they can function in that area,โ he added. โMake sure you have a way out of the house, even through a second story. And make sure you have two ways out of your bedroom โ if you canโt go out the hallway, make sure you have a way to get outside of your bedroom door.โ
Stanley Vandenboss, 85, died Oct. 3 after firefighters pulled him from his burning mobile home. He had working smoke detectors. John Frueh Sr., 91, died in September when fire destroyed his home on 4 Mile Road in Alpine Township. His home had no working detectors. Both fires occurred in the early morning hours.
