PHOTO: Members of the Victoria Fire Department on March 29 participated in “Operation Installation,” giving away smoke detectors on Abbey Drive and Monterrey Drive.
The Victoria Fire Department Fire Marshal’s Office is taking a direct approach to protecting residents from home fires: by going door-to-door to give them the tools they need to stay safe.
On March 29, staff with the Fire Marshal’s Office visited households on Abbey Drive and Monterrey Drive to install smoke detectors and teach residents about proper smoke detector maintenance.
Staff gave away a total of 22 smoke detectors. Residents who were not home or who did not answer the door received a door hanger inviting them to call the Fire Marshal’s Office to receive a smoke detector.
The smoke detectors were provided through funding from the Golden Crescent Regional Advisory Council, Mac Haik and FireTron, as well as the community smoke detector drive hosted by the Victoria Fire Department in October 2024 in partnership with Walmart.
‘Operation Installation’
The home visits were part of “Operation Installation,” a new initiative under the Fire Marshal’s Office’s smoke detector distribution program.
The Fire Marshal’s Office partners with local donors to obtain smoke detectors and distribute them to residents upon request or at community events, such as the Keep Victoria Beautiful neighborhood cleanups. “Operation Installation” aims to increase the number of distributions by bringing smoke detectors directly to residents.
Fire Marshal Annette V. Ponce said that staff intend to conduct “Operation Installation” visits on a regular basis going forward, prioritizing low- to moderate-income neighborhoods as well as areas with higher numbers of elderly residents.
Why it matters
About 60% of home fire deaths occur in homes with no working smoke detectors, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
“Smoke detectors are one of the most important fire safety tools available,” Ponce said. “When they are maintained properly, they can save lives by alerting occupants to a fire and giving them more time to escape.”
Protect your home
Homeowners who live within city limits can request a smoke detector installation by calling the Fire Marshal’s Office at 361-485-3460 or visiting www.victoriatx.gov/fire.
Residents can also call the Fire Marshal’s Office to donate to the program.
View more photos from the event.