PGFD Adopt-A-Neighborhood Smoke Alarm Program Visits North College Park

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930

mebrady@co.pg.md.us @PGFDPIO

Dozens of College Park homes are safer today after firefighters went door-to-door testing and smoke alarms and if needed, installed new 10-year smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. This community risk reduction event was made possible by the generous donation from Carrolton Enterprises through the Departments “Adopt-A-Neighborhood” program. Carrolton owns and manages several shopping centers throughout Prince George’s County. The company donated funds that enabled the Departments Community Advisory Council, a 501C-3 Corporation, to purchase a quantity of alarms. Firefighters will visit communities near Carrollton Enterprises shopping centers and test smoke alarms and if a home is found without a working smoke alarm, a new 10-year smoke alarm purchased with donated funds from Carrollton Enterprises, will be installed by firefighters ensuring that family is protected.

Todays smoke alarm event occurred in the Hollywood community of North College Park. About 100 homes near the Hollywood Shopping Center in the 9800 block of Rhode Island Avenue were selected to be checked. Dozens of Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department personnel including volunteer, civilian and career members and County Fire Chief Marc Bashoor participated in the event.

Firefighters from Branchville, Berwyn Heights and Calverton divided the targeted streets up and crews spent the morning going door-to-door testing existing alarms and replacing older and non-working alarms with new 10-year alarms. If a home had natural gas appliances, a fireplace or an attached garage they were provided with a combination smoke and CO alarm.

Any business or group interested in joining our Adopt-A-Neighborhood program should contact our coordinator via Email at PGFDCAC@gmail.com.

Any resident that is in need of a working smoke and can not afford to purchase one themselves should call 311 and ask about our smoke alarm program. If you purchased a smoke or CO alarm and need assistance in installing the alarm feel free to call 311 and ask for our assistance.

Branchville, Berwyn Heights, Calverton and civilian members of along with County Fire/EMS Department leadership and a representative of Carrollton Enterprises met this morning in the parking lot of Hollywood Shopping Center to kick-off our smoke alarm effort.