Mebane, N.C., June 19, 2017 -- Kidde and Allstate Insurance Company have extended the deadline for the 2nd annual Step Up and Stand Out contest. This friendly challenge is part of a larger national campaign designed to encourage and inspire volunteers to join the ranks of the 25,000+ volunteer and combination fire departments across the U.S.
Kidde, Allstate Insurance Company, Firehouse, the Volunteer and Combination Officers Section of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) have joined together to honor the men and women who put their lives at risk to keep their communities. Fire departments can submit a nomination video at Facebook.com/StepUpandStandOut through August 21, 2017.
Public voting will take place August 28 - September 30 on a special Facebook page. Five finalists will be selected along with a grand prize winner; all winners will be announced the week of October 8th in honor of Fire Prevention Week.The five departments receiving the most public votes will be recognized at Firehouse Expo in Nashville and will receive prize packages:
- Kidde smoke alarms
- IAFC and VCOS Section membership
- (2) free admissions to Firehouse Expo
- NFPA Fire Prevention Week in a Box
The grand prize winner will also receive a $3,000 grant and full registration to the VCOS Symposium in the Sun.
Most of America’s 30,000 fire departments (87 percent) are either fully or partially staffed by volunteers, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. However, a shortage of volunteers, combined with the aging of the current volunteers and increased call volumes, raises serious questions over who will be protecting communities in the near- and long-term future.
Fire departments should visit Facebook.com/StepUpandStandOut for full contest rules and to submit their video. Follow #StepUpStandOut on social media for program updates.
