Help with Fire Prevention program

[Michelle Latham]

I'm helping my fire chief pull together a fire prevention/pub ed program and we see a need: to get a lot of smoke detectors out into our community of about 3,000. We are a small rural department and we don't have tons of money and I was wondering if anyone knows of a way that I can get free smoke detectors that we can give away to our townspeople. If anyone has any ideas can you please share them with me? I'm rather cluless in this area!
Thanks!

[wombat]

I know its difficult up in the far North but
what is the lower 48 doing?

I don't know as I live in Vic Aust. Last year the Vic government brought in legislation requiring all dwellings to have operating smoke alarms. Our domestic risk is probably a lot less than you guys as we don't get 6 months of freezing weather. Chimney fires for us are a rarity rather than the norm. A ten dollar (Aust) smoke alarm is no big ask. I would look to buy in bulk and sell at a small profit then concentrate on the people unable to comply.
like we have. Identifying the elderly and incapacitated becomes part of the task.

Some of the other problems are hearing impaired households - you can get a strobe operated alarm and the service clubs ie Rotary and Lions have obtained them for these situations.

The reason the government brought in legistlation was they saw the figures. The insurance companies recognise the savings and the people realise they need to sleep in peace and confidence at night.

Good luck it is a very important mission you have. - It save lives.

PS Are you related to the Latham clan in Langwarrin Aust?

[ 07-30-2001: Message edited by: Wombat ]

[Michelle Latham]

I wouldn't be surprised if I was related to that Latham clan!

[Diane E]

Try your major hardware stores -- there's a Home Depot in my area that's always willing to donate.....3000 is a lot, but maybe they could give you a discount.

[hctrouble25]

Contact some smoke detector manufacturers via letters and explain that you are a small rural department that is trying to ensure that all homes are properly equipped with smoke detectors. Ask for them to send either discount coupons or free smoke detectors - of course don't word it that way say something like "any assistance you could provide such as discounts, products, etc. would be very appreciated by the community and the emergency services departments in the area." Not only does it give them the opportunity to do something good for consumers, but it also allows them the best kind of advertising..free! The community and fire department sing their praises and in the end they get great word of mouth exposure. You might be pleasantly surprised at what you get. Good luck!!!

[ 07-31-2001: Message edited by: hctrouble25 ]

[larrycook]

Michelle,
Figure out how many homes there are in your community and multiply by 2 or 3. that is how many detectors you will need. If you can not do all of them at once. try to get at least one per home. do more the next year. Talk to the home offices of the insurences companies. they will benefit greatly from having the homes they have insured by having detectors in them.
All so have building contractors install them in homes when they build them or remodle them.
hope this helps.
god bless, Larry

[Michelle Latham]

Ok thanks folks! I'm just in an interesting situation living in the Alaskan boonies where we don't really have big stores. But I'll search around in Fairbanks and see what I can come up with. If anyone has any names or addresses of companies then feel free to send them my way!
Thanks!!!

[BFD847]

In our area the local red cross provides smoke detectors and batteries free of charge. When we actually have a little time we pick target areas. For example multiple family dwellings and we also have several trailer parks. We also have ordinances that require new homes to have working smoke detectors as well as rental homes. We still find many inoperable or without batteries. We do fire and ems service there are packs of detectors and batteries on our trucks. We make an effort on each run to check smoke detectors and provide what ever is needed.
Lots of luck.

[SFDPREZ]

check with your insurance companies, local stores, and manufactuers they will all work with you to help you out

[capt963]

Michelle, ive seen some good replys here.
Keep this in mind. Alot of the residents
probably already have smoke detectors, so
you dont need 3000 of them. start off with a couple of hundred. (Youd be surprised at the generousity of local merchants) Then go door to door and ask people if they have one in their home (Wear dress uniform when doing this!) If they dont, then ask them if they would like YOU to install one for them.
We have found that if you hand one to them, it ends up stuffed in a drawer some place and never gets installed. Dont just hand them over, trust me. You want to make sure that they are being used. After all
"someone" besides them have paid for them.
Good luck with this, its a wonderful
way to show the community you care.
Oh yea, and make sure it gets a spot in the local news paper.

[firefightermatt]

I dont know but I may be able to find out for you I can ask the fire prevention director at the dept in my town. He may be able to help.

GOOD LUCK WITH YOU MISSION.