Smoke Detectors Save Lives

On February 6, 2010, a house fire in Warwick, RI took the lives of five young people, including a seven-month-old infant. The victims were found unconscious due to smoke inhalation on the second floor by firefighters who pulled the bodies from the “gruesome” scene one-by-one. Although the fire had been smoldering for hours, it had been left unnoticed by a friend of the victims’, who was asleep on the first floor, until the ceiling collapsed. The reason for this: no working smoke detectors in the house. If a law were enacted to require the installation and maintenance of smoke detectors, the lives of Nicholas Jillson, 24, Tayla Lackey, 20, Dan Janik, 20, Amanda Villeneuve, 21, and Annabelle Janik, seven-months, would not have been lost in this tragedy.

All of the victims attended Mount Saint Charles Academy, located in Woonsocket, RI. They were friends and family to so many people, including myself. Amanda and Dan, who were engaged to be married, were the parents of Annabelle. Dan is also the cousin of former Boston Red Sox outfielder, Rocco Baldelli. Nick was a star hockey player at Mount St. Charles before graduating in 2004 and was the younger brother of professional ice hockey player, Jeff Jillson. Tayla was my friend and line mate on the girls’ varsity hockey team at Mount St. Charles before graduating in 2007. She was free-spirited and she, as well as the four other victims, will be missed by many. The spirits of these victims live on in the hearts of their friends and families; however, one cannot help but wonder if the presence of a smoke detector could have saved these young lives.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 1,451 lives were saved between the years of 1998 and 2007 due to the installation of smoke detectors. Every year, about 3,000 lives are lost in house fires. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, from 2003 to 2006, more than 66% of house fire deaths occurred in houses without smoke detectors. It is important to not only have a smoke detector, but a smoke detector that is working and properly maintained. Having properly maintained smoke detectors will greatly increase the chances of survival among house fire victims.

The installation of smoke detectors could have saved so many people the heartache of losing loved ones who had their whole lives ahead of them. Although programs have been established over the years that have allowed for the installation of smoke detectors in more homes, laws need to be put into place that require the installation and maintenance of smoke detectors. Smoke detectors save lives and could have prevented the deaths of Nick, Tayla, Dan, Amanda, Annabelle, and so many more people.