Henry County fire departments are raising money to provide smoke alarms in county homes after a fatal house fire in Lewisville earlier this month. The effort wants to be able to give away free smoke alarms with a 10-year lithium battery to Henry County residents.

Last week, firefighters were unable to save 52-year-old Michael Dale and his granddaughter, 4-year-old Jenna, from an early-morning house fire. Dale’s family members say the house had smoke detectors, but firefighters say they could not hear the alarms going off when they arrived on the scene.

Firefighters say it takes longer for fire crews to respond to emergencies in Henry County because only New Castle staffs a paid department. Thirteen other crews are volunteer, meaning responders are coming from home, not directly from a station.