The Emporia Fire Department has 450 smoke detectors to give away to homeowners in Lyon County. The only restriction beyond home ownership is that the house must be occupied by people over 65 or by a families with children.
“Need is not really a factor, as far as income,” said Fire Marshal Tom Andrews. “We’re targeting families and elderly and people with a disability.”
Elderly people and children are more than twice as likely to die in house fires as the remainder of the population, according to statistics from the U.S. Fire Administration.
The smoke detectors for Lyon County came through a $1,699 grant from the Kansas Fire Injury Prevention Project of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Lyon was one of six counties that received funds from the project. The local grant application was written by Doug Stueve, Andrews said.
KDHE supplied the money for the detectors, a small ladder, and other necessary tools and supplies; the cost of the firefighters’ time will constitute the city’s contribution to the matching grant.
The terms of the grant, as submitted and approved, require the department to ensure the detectors have been installed and the public educated.
“We will not hand any out,” Andrews said.
Training will be given to all of the firefighters involved the installations.
“Next week I’ll give each shift a little class on exactly how we’ll do this,” Andrews said.
At least two firefighters will go to each house. One will install the detector while the other educates the residents of the home about fire prevention, developing an escape plan, and other aspects of fire safety.
“That’s part of the deal,” Andrews said. “We have to do that.”
KDHE will contact detector recipients in about six months to ask questions about the project.
“They’re going to try to track these over long term,” he said.
Locally, the detectors will be numbered and marked so firefighters can track whether fires occur at those homes after installation.
Residents who want to participate need to call the fire department, 343-4230, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and ask for Lawana, who will coordinate the detector applications and installations. If she is not available, Andrews said, callers may leave a telephone number for her to return the call.
Smoke detectors will not be given to people who rent houses or apartments.
“Folks that come in and want smoke alarms installed, that’s the first thing we’ll ask: Do you own or rent?” Andrews said.
If the response is “rent,” and the property in question has no smoke detector, Andrews will call the landlord to talk about statutes that affect rental properties.
“We make them aware of the Kansas law that requires smoke detectors in the home,” he said.
Free4all (anonymous) says...
Great idea but sad for those who rent from landlords who supply substandard detectors that are too old and substandard wiring in th homes which make them more vulnerable. This is why I support city rental inspections and standards.
January 8, 2009 at 4:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Pollyanna (anonymous) says...
Sounds like a wonderful use of the grant match. I think the best part of the project is the education for the home owners. Nice PR opportunity for the Fire Dept.as well as ensuring a high risk population has the detectors. My guess is that during home installation, firemen may detect other fire hazards which could be addressed to the owner. Thanks to all of those who will be a part of the project.
January 9, 2009 at 11:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )