During a recent city council meeting in Columbia, South Carolina, Mayor Daniel J. Rickman proclaimed October as Fire Prevention Month, emphasizing the importance of working smoke alarms in homes. The proclamation highlighted alarming statistics from the National Fire Protection Association, noting that 59% of fire-related deaths occur in homes without functional smoke alarms.

In 2023, the Columbia Richland Fire Department responded to 522 structure fires and conducted nearly 5,000 fire inspections, uncovering over 6,300 fire code violations. The department also provided 211 fire safety presentations and installed more than 500 free smoke alarms for residents in need.

Mayor Rickman urged the community to prioritize fire safety, stating, \"Smoke alarms, make them work for you,\" and underscored the city's commitment to reducing home fire injuries through education and prevention efforts. Fire Chief and other department representatives expressed gratitude for the support from the city council and emphasized the collaborative efforts required to maintain safety in the community.

The meeting also included the adoption of the agenda and approval of previous meeting minutes, with no public input recorded during the session.