"Wrightsville Beach Fire Department’s fire and life safety education coordinator, Sunnie Vann, wants residents to take advantage of a home safety inspection service that the fire department offers to townspeople.

Vann, who is also a fire equipment operator and a staff Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), coordinates the program equipped with a checklist. By walking through the home with the homeowner, firefighters look for heating, electrical, kitchen, smoking and general housekeeping hazards. The free home safety survey takes only 30 minutes to conduct.

Vann said, "If there are any checks in the "No" column, then we give them information on how to fix the problem or offer them other information."

In addition to the survey, the fire department offers counsel to homeowners who lack a clear-cut fire escape route and a fire escape plan.

With residential fires killing more Americans than natural disasters combined, the service is something local homeowners might want to consider.

Fire chief Frank Smith said, "A real part of making this program successful is making people aware of it."

Smith said even though the smoke alarm has grown in popularity, people still need to be reminded to replace batteries."

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