Boy's death prompts smoke detector "blitz"

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Fire officials in St. Louis are going door-to-door at several homes to make sure people have smoke detectors. The action comes after the weekend death of 7-year-old Devon Gage -- the city's fourth fire-related death this year.

The department says it has installed 10,618 smoke detectors in 4,752 homes since August 2006. Officials believe the program is part of the reason St. Louis has seen single-digit fire fatalities each of the past three years.

In addition to the canvassing program on Monday, any city resident needing a smoke alarm can call the fire department at 314-533-3406.

Devon died Saturday. Investigators say the autistic boy was playing with a fireplace lighter or matches when the blaze began. The home had no working smoke detectors.