Given the impact that the fires As nursing homes continue to have a significant impact on senior citizens in North Carolina, the Office of the State Fire Commissioner (OSFM), the Winston-Salem Fire Department, and Kidde, a leading manufacturer of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms, announced the start of the annual Smoke Alarm Saturday (SAS) campaign.
The initiative seeks to promote the installation of functioning smoke detectors and strengthen the fire safety education.
This year, the campaign will place special emphasis on protecting older adults and other vulnerable populations, after recent data showed that people aged 65 and over continue to account for a significant proportion of residential fire deaths in the state.
"The smoke detectors "In operation, they help save lives, especially now that wildfires are spreading faster than ever," said State Fire Commissioner Brian Taylor in a press release.
“By focusing on older adults and ensuring that homes are protected with functioning alarms, we are taking important steps to help prevent tragedies in North Carolina,” he said.
The campaign will begin on Friday, June 5th at 10:30 am at the Station of Winston-Salem Fire Station No. 1.
Fatalities: more than half were people over 65 years old
In 2025, people aged 65 and over represented 80 of the 159 deaths recorded from fires in the state, equivalent to 50.3% of the total, according to the INorth Carolina Fire Fatalities Report 2025: Five-Year Analysis (2021–2025).
El reportIt also points out that factors such as reduced mobility, chronic health conditions, and living alone increase their vulnerability to emergencies of this kind.
In addition, more than half of the fire deaths occurred in homes where there were no smoke detectors or where they were not working properly.
Of the 159 victims recorded in 2025, 84 died in homes without operational alarms, while only 15 died in homes where it was confirmed that the detectors were working.
The report also concludes that the installation and verification of smoke detectors remains the most effective measure for saving lives.
The importance of having smoke detectors
Fire authorities say the need for functioning smoke detectors has never been more important.
They also mentioned that modern homes and furniture catch fire more quickly and reach higher temperatures than before, significantly reducing the time families have to escape safely.
In many cases, residents may have less than two minutes to leave their home once a smoke alarm is triggered, they warned.
Installation and tour across 69 counties
Following the campaign's launch, firefighters, community allies, and volunteers will canvass neighborhoods to install smoke detectors donated by Kidde and provide fire safety education to residents, with a focus on senior citizens and other vulnerable populations.
A total of 69 counties in North Carolina will participate this year in Smoke Alarm Saturday activities, with more than 174 fire departments and the collaboration of community organizations.
It is estimated that more than 5,000 smoke detectors will be installed over the weekend.
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Full report
To learn more about the Smoke Alarm Saturday campaign in 2026, visit the website of the Office of the State Fire Commissioner
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