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LaFayette Fire and EMS chief Jim Doody addressed the LaFayette city council on Monday night during a scheduled business meeting. Doody asked the council to allow the city to be a part of the state-wide Get Alarmed Alabama program.

The program allows citizens of member counties or cities to apply for free smoke alarms and allows firefighters to install the devices at no charge.

“Participating fire departments can assist the person requesting the installed smoke detector to be installed in their home, and qualifying residents can request a free smoke alarm and installation online or in person at a fire station,” explained Doody.

Doody had brought the topic to the council at a previous meeting but it was tabled when city attorney Mac Tucker had concerns about being open to lawsuits should there be an issue with installation of the devices.

“Today, no fire department in the state of Alabama has been sued for liability as a result of the fire protective program,” Doody said at Monday night’s meeting.

He added, “I wanted to bring it up again to talk about the smoke detector installation program with the city, all 67 counties have participating fire departments in this program.”

Tucker reiterated his concern with the liability of having firefighters install the devices.

“I would suggest that we do a little work on this liability waiver and make it a little more comprehensive before we move forward with this…there’s no way that you can cover yourself with a prior to waiver,” he said.

The city attorney was most concerned about rental properties and suggested an indemnity clause for landlords be put in the waiver, in case a tenant sues for improper installation. Council member David Ennis argued against this, citing his role as a landlord.

“I would not vote for it, whether it hurt me or not, but I just don’t think it’s appropriate that we will indemnify you for any reason,” he said.

Tucker responded that the only reason would be for faulty installation.

“I think it’s a good idea. If it can just save one life, you know, it can be well worth it,” said councilmember Toney Thomas. “Most elderly people don’t have them in their homes, and the ones that do, they’re not able to get up and change them and make sure they’re working properly.”

Thomas made a motion to go ahead and approve the motion to join the program and have Tucker look over the liability waiver.

Doddy gave several sobering statistics including having a working smoke alarm in a home that decreases the risk of dying is cut in half. He added that those in Alabama are twice as likely to die from a house fire, with 37 deaths so far this year.

“With the cold season approaching, and that is anticipated to go up,” Doody said of the statistic.