Tampa Fire Rescue (TFR) is sounding the alarm on how to properly install security bars at your home.
TFR said they come across many homes with burglar bars that require a key to get in. They said these bars can be more dangerous than burglars.
Firefighters said earlier this year, someone died in a case involving burglar bars.
In early March, burglar bars were an obstacle wen they rescued an elderly man who was trapped in a smoked filled home. Tampa police and fire crews rushed to a Wallace Carter's home near College Hills.
"I was cooking. I put my pot on. I tried to turn the stove off and fell down," Carter said.
Carter's neighbor Eddie Williams saw the smoke and called 911.
"I couldn't get in the house because the burglar bars were on the door," Williams said.
First responders ran into the same issue. The burglar bars were locked and they had to force their way in using a halligan bar.
"We're all scrambling to get that victim out so we want to get in that area... and that just really slows us down," fire investigator Ryan Browne said.
Florida building code allows bars and grills to cover windows as long as they are releasable or removable from the inside without using a key, tool or force. Browne suggests people install quick release security bars.
"The updated burglar bars have the quick access from the inside. There's usually like a clip to undo it. The burglar bar swings away and then you can open the window and swing out," Browne said.
"The smoke probably would've overwhelmed him. If I hadn't had came out when I came out. I'm thankful that I was able to help him," Williams siad.
Tampa Fire Rescue said if you do have burglar bars without the quick release, make sure your smoke detector is working.