By Associated Press
Montgomery, AL – Smoke alarms can save lives. That's the conclusion of a study released Monday by the state Department of Public Health. Officials with the Injury Prevention Division said at least 58 lives have been spared through the Alabama Smoke Alarm Initiative. State health officials announced they will expand the program in 2007 and purchase additional smoke alarms with a ten-thousand dollar grant from State Farm Insurance and funding from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. The smoke alarms will be distributed in high-risk areas where fire fatality rates exceed the state average. According to the state Fire Marshal's office, 85 Alabamians died in house fires in 2005. The grim toll placed Alabama among the top ten states in the number of fire fatalities. December through February are the peak months for residential fires.