OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) — The results are in for this year’s Oshkosh Fire Department Detector Trek.
Every October, the Oshkosh Fire Department picks a different neighborhood to check on residents smoke detectors. Residents get a postcard in advance letting them know that the department is coming.
The Oshkosh Fire Department checked 103 residences and installed 91 detectors in 55 of these homes. The fire department installs detectors or changes the batteries in detectors free of charge.
“Working smoke detectors can give you a much much better chance of getting out in case of a fire,” said John Holland with the Oshkosh Fire Department. “We find that with most of the bigger fires we go to, they do not have working smoke detectors.”
Only 25% of the homes checked by the Oshkosh Fire Department had the correct number of working smoke detectors; which is below the national average of 80-90%.
The Oshkosh Fire Department came across seven homes that had zero detectors.
If you’re not sure if you have enough working detectors in your home, you can call 920-236-5249 and set up an appointment to have the fire department check. If you don’t have enough, The Oshkosh Fire Department will install them or replace any needed batteries for free.
