“We feel the number one step anyone can take towards fire safety is to make sure that their home, apartment or business location has a working smoke alarm,” said Chief Peter X. Kelly, FWFD. “The new program we are introducing is a need-based program using Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Income Guidelines to provide smoke alarms in homes for those that would not be able to afford them,” he added.
FWFD's Smoke Alarm Distribution Program will be funded by a $55,000 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and $5,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. FWFD will have registration forms available beginning Monday, Oct. 13, at FWFD Code Enforcement Division, 4130 Lahmeyer Road; FWFD Administration Office, 307 East Murray Street; and, Safety Village, 1275 south Phoenix Parkway. Those completed registration forms are to be returned to any of these listed FWFD locations for review to see if the applicant meets the guidelines. Forms will also be available at Catholic Charities, 315 East Washington Blvd.; Early Childhood Alliance Administrative Office, 3320 Fairfield Ave.; and, any Fort Wayne office for Community Action of Northeast Indiana. The forms are to be returned only to the three FWFD locations listed above or may be sent via FAX to 427-5082. Those that qualify will then be contacted by FWFD.
Another aspect of Fire Prevention Week occurred earlier today with the 62nd Annual WOWO Citywide Fire Drill. All schools within Fort Wayne are encouraged to participate in the drill in which a host school is selected to actually activate its fire alarm and make the “911” call. Blackhawk Christian Junior-Senior High School was the 2008 host school and Charly Butcher, WOWO's Morning Show host, was onsite at Blackhawk to signal the beginning of the drill for all of the schools.
In addition to smoke alarms and fire drills, FWFD lists some additional fire prevention steps that can be taken to make a home or business safer. A complete list is available at www.firepreventionweek.org
- Do not overload any electrical outlet or power strip. Be sure to make sure all cords or not frayed or stripped.
- Make sure the chimney is professionally inspected annually and cleaned if necessary.
- Test smoke alarms every month and change the batteries according the manufacturer's instructions.
- If your home is equipped with gas appliances and/or a fireplace, install carbon monoxide detectors near sleeping areas.