State Fire Marshal Larry Flowers and Ironton Fire Chief Tom Runyon recently announced that a smoke alarm installed in an Ironton home likely saved a man’s life on Wednesday.

On May 18, 2011, Ironton Fire Department firefighters installed a working smoke alarm at 1919 S. Fourth St. as part of Project S.A.F.E. (Smoke Alarms For Everyone).

Just over three months later, on Wednesday, August 31, fire broke out in that home at approximately 6:15 a.m.

Though the occupant of that side of the duplex was not home at the time of the fire, the neighbor in the adjoining duplex at 1917 S. Fourth St. heard his neighbor’s smoke alarm.

Mike Clarence Markin was able to escape just before smoke and fire burst through the doors and windows of the structure.

“There is no doubt the smoke alarm — and Project S.A.F.E. — helped save a life,” Ironton Fire Chief Tom Runyon said. “Another minute and both of Mr. Markin’s escape routes would have been blocked.”

State Fire Marshal Larry Flowers agrees that Project S.A.F.E. and smoke alarms save lives.

“It is a fact that you have precious little time to escape a house fire; smoke alarms give you that extra needed time to escape.”

The Division of State Fire Marshal works with local fire departments to help supply smoke alarms for Project S.A.F.E.

Citizens may request a smoke alarm evaluation from their local fire department by calling the non-emergency phone number.

Recent statistics show as many as 90 percent of Ohio’s fires with fatalities or injuries occur in homes with no smoke alarms, no working smoke alarms or smoke alarms that might not have activated.

Smoke alarms can double the chances of a person of escaping a night time fire.