MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930
mebrady@co.pg.md.us Twitter: @PGFDPIO
The Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department has 150 smoke
alarms to distribute to residents of Prince George’s County thanks to a very
generous donation. The International
Association of Firefighters and Paramedics Association, IAFF Local 1619,
donated the smoke alarms to help meet the demand for the life saving
devices.
IAFF Local 1619 President Andrew Pantelis and Treasurer John
Wiseman presented the alarms to Assistant Fire Chief Paul Gomez at the Union
offices in Bowie, Md.
Firefighters know better than anyone else that smoke alarms
save lives and help to reduce property loss by early notification to home
occupants. “Early awareness by a working
smoke alarm allows occupants an opportunity to escape and provides firefighters
to respond sooner resulting in reducing the risk of injury or death to our
personnel,” said IAFF Local 1619 President Andrew Pantelis.
Prince George’s County Fire Chief Marc S. Bashoor is a
strong advocate for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in homes. “Working smoke alarms increases chances of
survival by about 50%. The addition of 150 10-year smoke alarms will save lives and reduce the number
of homes with non-working smoke alarms,” said Chief Bashoor. "I want to thank President Pantelis and the membership of Local 1619 for this generous donation of smoke alarms that will make the difference in protecting lives and property."
The
National Fire Protection Association reports approximately 3,000 people die in
home fires in the U.S. every year, with most fires happening during the winter.
Two-thirds of residential fire deaths occur in homes with either no smoke alarm
or no working alarm. Most smoke alarms are found to be non-working
due to a lack of batteries or no battery at all. The newer 10-year,
tamper-proof, with hush feature smoke alarms will reduce the number of
preventable fire fatalities occurring every year. The advancement of
smoke alarm technology to 10-year alarms is perhaps the greatest fire service life-saving
achievement since the invention of the smoke alarm itself.
A law requiring 10-year smoke alarms on every level of your
home will go into effect at the end of this year. This law applies to any home currently
protected by smoke alarms that are battery operated. It’s a law we can live with.
If you cannot afford to purchase a smoke alarm you may
contact the Fire/EMS Departments Safety First Smoke Alarm program at
301-864-SAFE (7233) or click here to make an on-line request. A
firefighter will make arrangements to visit your home and install an alarm,
free of charge.
The Fire/EMS Department is still in need of additional
10-year smoke alarms. This donation of
150 alarms will help to relieve a backlog of residents awaiting alarms in their
homes with a few remaining alarms left available to distribute. Anyone that would like to donate alarms is
encouraged to contact the Public Information Office at 301-883-5222.
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| (L to R) IAFF Local 1619 Treasurer John Wiseman and President Andrew Pantelis present their donation of 150 10-year smoke alarms to Assistant Fire Chief Paul Gomez. (MEBrady) |
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