More smoke detectors in South Bend since house fire killed six kids. Alarms free Saturday

Camille Sarabia, South Bend Tribune
·4 min read
The Direct Connect 911 Smoke Detector alerts a central station whenever smoke is detected. The station in turn calls the fire department and notifies additional contacts by phone or email. A manual shut-off button lets owners alert the emergency operators to a false alarm.
The Direct Connect 911 Smoke Detector alerts a central station whenever smoke is detected. The station in turn calls the fire department and notifies additional contacts by phone or email. A manual shut-off button lets owners alert the emergency operators to a false alarm.

SOUTH BEND — South Bend residents appear to be installing smoke detectors at a far greater rate since a fatal fire killed six children Jan. 21.

Smoke detector installations from the South Bend Fire Department have increased from 81 in January to 131 in February amid other fire preventative measures ongoing in that time. And the number will only climb on Saturday with a slate of free installations in the neighborhood where that fire occurred.

"I'm glad that number has increased," said South Bend Fire Chief Carl Buchanon, referring to the fire department's monthly statistical analysis at the March 20 Board of Public Safety meeting. "I'm glad we can help make citizens more safe in their homes."

Buchanon also mentioned that the department had conducted 242 inspections by their three certified inspectors in February. He's grateful for the efforts in getting buildings, companies and even food trucks inspected. He hopes to hire more inspectors in the future.

The proactive increase in smoke detector installations came due to the "uptick in the fires that we've seen through the city," Buchanon said.

"We all know one that speaks out in our mind primarily," he added, referencing the Jan. 21 fatal residential fire that took the lives of six children: 10-year-old Demetris Smith, 9-year-old Davida Smith, 5-year-old Deontay Smith, 4-year-old D’Angelo Smith and 17-month-old Faith Smith, who all died on the scene, and 11-year-old Faith Smith, who died five days later at Riley Children's Health in Indianapolis.

Indiana State Fire Marshal investigators are still investigating the cause and origin of the fire, and according to a Feb. 15 press release from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, investigators found "no indication of foul play." The release stated that State Fire Marshal investigators are aware of a "documented history of electrical issues within the home," but it had not been determined if those issues had been resolved prior to the fire. The Tribune previously reported that the home failed a safety inspection, in July, according to Housing Authority of South Bend Director, Marsha Parham-Green, six months before the tragic fatal fire.

Since then, the community has rallied in support of the Smith family and broader fire prevention. Radio station WUBS-FM (89.7), partnering with Koorsen Fire & Security, has given out free fire extinguishers to residents and churches to disperse, aiming to reach 1,000 fire extinguishers in 1,000 homes by April 1. Free smoke detectors and installations are given to St. Joseph County residents, but now the American Red Cross and the South Bend Fire Department take it a step further by canvassing in the victims' neighborhood.

South Bend Fire Inspector Barry Sebesta stands outside the house at 222 N. LaPorte Ave. Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, after Sunday’s fire where five children died inside the home.
South Bend Fire Inspector Barry Sebesta stands outside the house at 222 N. LaPorte Ave. Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, after Sunday’s fire where five children died inside the home.

"Anytime we have a structure fire, we try to collaborate with the American Red Cross to make sure they're properly placed," Buchanon said.

The department will collaborate with the American Red Cross from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 23 to install free smoke detectors throughout the neighborhood where the fire took place.

"We've done home fire campaigns for years,” said Kristin Marlow, the executive director of the Northwest American Red Cross, though she called Saturday’s American Red Cross Home Fire Campaign a special circumstance.

The campaign “brings folks together who are devastated from the Smith Six loss,” Marlow said. “It brings them together after a catastrophic tragic situation and brings hope to the community."

Three of the six children’s photos are in the front of the hall Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, at a visitation and memorial service at Century Center in South Bend for the six Smith children killed as a result of the Jan. 21, 2024, fatal house fire on North LaPorte Avenue.
Three of the six children’s photos are in the front of the hall Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, at a visitation and memorial service at Century Center in South Bend for the six Smith children killed as a result of the Jan. 21, 2024, fatal house fire on North LaPorte Avenue.

Volunteers can meet at St. Paul's Memorial Church, 1001 W. Colfax Ave., across from the location of the fatal fire at 222 N. LaPorte Ave. They will be given a 20-minute training session, learn about fire safety and be placed in small groups to install the smoke alarms.

The Red Cross chose the area south of the Near Northwest neighborhood to directly affect the neighbors of the Smith family. “It’s neighbors helping neighbors,” said Marlow, saying she wants to create a ripple effect in the area.

She said neighbors could feel vulnerable or fearful after the fire. By offering free smoke alarm installations, fire safety education and talking through evacuation plans, they could help eliminate stress or emotional anxiety, she said.

Based on the number of volunteers signed up so far, Marlow hopes they'll reach 400-600 homes on Saturday.

Volunteers can sign up to participate at https://backthebend.nd.edu/.

If residents aren't home at the time, they can call 888-684-1441 to request a free smoke alarm. The American Red Cross offers smoke alarm installations every Thursday for St. Joseph County residents.

Email Tribune staff writer Camille Sarabia at csarabia@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: South Bend Fire, Red Cross to install smoke detectors free on Saturday