Since January, DeKalb County fire officials have investigated 151 fires, most of which have occurred in the area of Pleasantwood Drive in Decatur, according to records obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Three of those fires have been fatal.
In an effort to curb the number of fires in the county, DeKalb firefighters are distributing 500 smoke alarms Saturday to residents on Covington Highway, Redan Road and South Hairston Road, DeKalb County officials said in a news release.
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Officials said the targeted areas have “a higher-than-average” number of house fires.
Last year, the county investigated 224 house fires, according to data obtained by the AJC. Of that amount, 16 were in the affected area for the smoke alarm delivery, with one resulting in a fatality.
DeKalb fire officials investigated 12 fires in that area as of Sept. 30, records show.
County officials said members of DeKalb fire and the American Red Cross will canvas the neighborhood with between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to install the smoke alarms, donated by Operation Save a Life.
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