Fire Chief Travels to Nashville and CMA's to Represent PGFD Smoke and CO Alarm Initiatives


PGFD MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930
mebrady@co.pg.md.us     @PGFDPIO

A leading manufacturer of residential fire safety products is partnering with a country music star on the biggest awards night in Music City to unveil a program intended to make a difference in reducing injuries and death to civilians and firefighters.

Prince George’s County, Maryland, has the largest and busiest combination; career, civilian and volunteer, Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Departments in the Country.  We have been on the nationwide forefront of keeping everyone safe by being vociferous in the promotion of public awareness campaigns for portable fire extinguishers, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in the home. 

We are enthusiastic that a manufacturer of these life-saving devices has partnered with fire departments across the Nation including Prince George's County in the quest to save lives, reduce injuries and prevent property loss.  Recognizing our Fire/EMS Department's collective effort, Kidde Fire Safety, a leading manufacturer of residential fire safety products, has invited Marc S. Bashoor, Prince George’s County Fire Chief, to represent the men and women of our Department in joining other members of the fire service in Nashville to help promote Kidde's “Be a Safety Hero” initiative.  Fire Chief Bashoor will be a guest of Kidde at the Country Music Awards after daylong activities promoting the “Be a Safety Hero” program.

On Wednesday, November 6, representatives from Kidde, and the fire service will participate at a press conference to unveil the “Be a Safety Hero” program with Craig Morgan, a former first responder and one of country music’s best-loved artists.  The ‘Be a Safety Hero’ initiative empowers everyone to follow 5 simple steps to fire safety and is a new national awareness campaign in partnership with Kidde Fire Safety. 

The first step to ‘Be a Safety Hero’ is to replace outdated smoke alarms. To help, Kidde will donate 1,000 of its new Worry-Free smoke alarms to fire departments at 10 stops during Morgan’s 2014 tour ($25,000 retail value). These 10-year sealed-in battery smoke alarms will be installed in local at-risk homes.


Here is the Media Advisory describing the press conference to be held in Nashville, TN, on the morning of the Country Music Awards.

MEDIA ADVISORY

Country Music Star Craig Morgan Joins Forces with Kidde and Fire Service to Promote Simple Steps to Safety
Program empowers everyone to be a safety hero; kicks off a multi-community alarm donation initiative in conjunction with Morgan’s 2014 tour

WHAT:  Craig Morgan, one of country music’s best-loved artists, will unveil a new national awareness campaign in partnership with Kidde Fire Safety, a leading manufacturer of residential fire safety products. The ‘Be a Safety Hero’ initiative empowers everyone to follow 5 simple steps to fire safety. TV and digital spots featuring Morgan, a former first responder, and Nashville firefighters remind families of the steps and will air in the weeks surrounding the 2013 CMA Awards on ABC. Additional media outreach and awareness will follow the press event.

The first step to ‘Be a Safety Hero’ is to replace outdated smoke alarms. To help, Kidde will donate 1,000 of its new Worry-Free smoke alarms to fire departments at 10 stops during Morgan’s 2014 tour ($25,000 retail value). These 10-year sealed-in battery smoke alarms will be installed in local at-risk homes.

Kidde is honored to also welcome special guest Kix Brooks, this year’s CMA “National Broadcast Personality of the Year” winner, which follows more than 75 major industry awards as part of music duo, Brooks & Dunn. Brooks serves as the radio voice for public service announcements on the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s alarm pledge program – step #5 to “Be a Safety Hero.” The pledge asks families to commit to being fire safe, which in turn helps firefighters who would enter burning homes to rescue trapped residents.  

Kidde, Brooks and Morgan also will recognize the proactive and industry-leading fire prevention actions of the State of Tennessee. According to the state of Tennessee, 39 lives have been saved since January 2013 thanks to 10-year sealed-in battery smoke alarms installed by the state’s Division of Fire Prevention. Kidde will donate 500 of its Worry-Free smoke alarms to help Tennessee continue its life-saving efforts.

WHY: Approximately 3000 people die in U.S. home fires each year, and winter is the peak time. Most fatal fires happen in homes with either no alarm or no working alarm. The main reason smoke alarms don’t work is due to dead or missing batteries. Knowing simple steps to fire safety can help save lives.

·     Craig Morgan, Country music star and Grand Ole Opry member
·     Kix Brooks, CMA National Personality of the Year, host of American Country Countdown
·     Gary West, Assistant Commissioner, State of Tennessee Division of Fire Prevention
·     Ron Siarnicki, executive director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
·     A Tennessee family who escaped a home fire due to a working smoke alarm
·     Kidde Fire Safety representatives

WHEN:  Wednesday, November 6, 2013, 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum, Curb Courtyard along Demonbreun St.

INTERVIEWS & VISUALS: 
·     Find out why Craig Morgan is passionate about helping families be safe from fire
·     Watch the spots featuring Craig Morgan and Nashville Fire Department
·     Hear from an 8-year old boy hailed as a hero in a recent massive apartment fire
·     Capture footage of Morgan, Brooks and Kidde representatives presenting smoke alarms to the State of Tennessee Division of Fire Prevention
·     Ask national fire officials how Americans can make their homes more fire safe

CONTACTEmily Lauer, 216-224-3624 for Kidde; Cindy Heath, 615-429-2203 for Craig Morgan; Tyne Parrish, 615-242-7444 for Kix Brooks; Kate Abernathy, TN State Fire Marshal’s Office, 615-878-4959
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