MIDDLEBORO — Three minutes.

That’s all the time people have, on average, to escape a house fire.

And that makes smoke detectors crucial, fire officials say. The more warning time people have to escape, the better the chances for a safe exit from a burning building.

Middleboro knows all too well that house fires can have tragic outcomes. In 2024, two residents, Jasmine Lane, 12, and Nathaniel Williams, 67, died as the result of separate fires at their homes.

Officials could not determine whether smoke detectors were working at those homes, Fire Chief Owen Thompson said. But the tragedies “led us to believe there might be a bigger issue.’’

All too often, the department reports, smoke detectors are non-functioning because of age or malfunction, have been removed due to nuisance alarms or are missing entirely. 

The town sought out programs that might help with fire safety education and with the issue of smoke detectors. 

They received a $226,088 ​Federal Emergency Management Agency Fire Prevention and Safety Grant and a municipal match of $22,608 in 2024. The grant was an effort led by Fire Department Capt. Dave Taylor, Capt. Tim Andrews and retired Capt. Laurence Fahey, with support from grant writer Stephanie Hall. 

This will provide free education, safety training, and equipment, including new smoke/carbon monoxide alarms, to keep residents safe. 

The program “is a critical step in strengthening the safety of our community,’’ Thompson said. “Through awareness and education, we can make Middleboro a safer place for everyone."

The program has been teased in town with the placement of signs bearing the numbers “1,’’ “2” and “3.’’ The one represents the one hour, on average, that the safety study will take.

Residents can sign up for the safety appointment. A dedicated fire safety will then visit the home, evaluate their alarms, and replace them as needed for free. The team will also review a fire safety checklist and educate residents on ways to mitigate certain home risks.

“We’ll be in and out in an hour,’’ Taylor said. 

The “2” represents the ultimate goal of fire safety: To survive.

And the “3” reflects the three minutes that people have on average to safely escape a fire. Modern fires burn hotter and faster, making a home “untenable’’ in about three minutes, according to department information. 

Priority will be given to homes with children 18 and younger, Thompson said. The program will run for two years or until funding runs out. 

To request an appointment, visit middleboroughfire.com and click on the “fire life safety audit’’ link.