Baltimore Officials Conducting Smoke Alarm Sweep

BALTIMORE (AP) -- Firefighters and paramedics in Baltimore are going door-to-door to talk about smoke alarms and install them where needed.

The smoke alarm sweep is taking place Saturday. The alarms are being offered at no cost to residents who need them.

Officials say the sweep is being done in response to recent house fires that resulted in the deaths of three people. Baltimore Fire Chief Niles Ford says investigators found that no smoke alarms were installed in the homes where two of the last three fatal fires took place.

The city's fire department says that since 2011 firefighters have distributed and installed more than 22,000 free smoke alarms.

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