Fire department to give away 500 smoke detectors, thanks to grant

 By Amy Widner

Friday, March 26, 2010

By Amy Widner

A $2,500 grant will enable the fire and emergency services department to provide 500 free smoke detectors to Pine Bluff residents.

The grant comes from State Farm Insurance, and was presented to the department in an event Thursday.

Fire Chief Dannie Smith said the grant will further the department in its goal to have all Pine Bluff homes and businesses equipped with smoke detectors. Twenty people have died in fires in Pine Bluff in the last 10 years, Mayor Carl A. Redus Jr. said.

"You've heard the statistics from the mayor, 3,500 people killed and 17,000 people injured a year (nationwide)," Smith said. "Most of those deaths and injuries could have been prevented if only those homes had a working smoke alarm."

Statistics also show that a person's chance of surviving a fire increases by 50 percent if their home is equipped with a smoke detector, Smith said.

"I can't say enough about smoke detectors," Smith said.

Not only will the fire department provide the free detectors, firefighters will also install them. Smith said each fire call will provide firefighters with the chance to communicate with the public about the importance of maintaining a working smoke detector.

"Any time a fire unit responds to a call, the very first question we're going to ask is if that residence has a smoke alarm," Smith said.

Firefighters will also inspect existing detectors to make sure they are working and properly positioned within the structure.

"Then we'll check their neighbors," Smith said.

Gary Stephenson, State Farm Insurance spokesman, praised Smith for his efforts. Taking that extra step to not just give away detectors, but also install them, makes all the difference, he said. Not all departments are willing to take the time.

"We'll make a commitment now to provide additional funding next year if he's interested in continuing to pursue this project so that he can meet his goals," Stephenson said.

Kahdijah Miller, the department's public educator, wrote the grant. She said it was nice to see the department's efforts to get the grant pay off.

"It makes me feel really good that we'll be able to provide at least 500 people in the city with a new smoke alarm," Miller said.