FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Mannington Fire Department has purchased smoke
alarms that will be given to people who need them. We were able to purchase 250
smoke alarms thanks to a grant from FM Global. The Mannington
Home Center became involved
with the project and provided the fire department with special pricing so we could purchase the maximum number of smoke detectors.
FM Global provides comprehensive commercial and
industrial insurance services. Because they believe that the majority of fire
can be prevented, FM Global offers financial support to organizations working to combat fire. Through their new Fire Prevention
Grant Program, fire departments and brigades, as well as national, state, regional, local and community organizations
can apply for funding to support a wide array of fire prevention, preparedness and control efforts.
Last year, West
Virginia’s fire departments responded to over 8,000 fires.
Thirty six of these fires resulted in 42 deaths. Fires can grow and spread
much more quickly than people realize. Every second of warning you get from a
smoke alarm can literally mean the difference between surviving a fire or becoming the victim of a fire. Smoke Alarms are the difference between Life and Death. WV
State Fire Marshal, Sterling Lewis, Jr., says “What we know for certain is that many of these deaths could have been
prevented if there had been working smoke alarms in the homes to alert occupants of the fire”
The Mannington Fire Department will give smoke
alarms to those individuals in need. If needed members of the Mannington Fire
Department will even install the smoke alarms in your home. “We take life
and fire safety seriously” says Captain John (smokey) Higgins. Any one
needing a smoke alarm should contact any member of the Mannington Fire Department. There
will also be a sign-up list and the Mannington Senior Citizen Building. You can
reach the Mannington Fire Department by calling or faxing 304-986-3251 or by emailing them at
manningtonfd@aol.com .
Remember these tips about smoke alarms:
o Have smoke alarms
on every level of your home, especially outside sleeping areas and preferably inside bedrooms as well.
o Test them once
a month, and replace batteries at least once a year, use a birthday or anniversary as a reminder or when you set your clocks
for daylight savings time.
o Replace smoke
alarms after 10 years.
o Place smoke
alarms according to manufacturer’s directions.
o Clean the outside
ONLY of a smoke alarm by gently going over the cover with the brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner. Never pain a smoke alarm.
o Whenever a smoke
alarm beeps, TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. It might just be a false alarm from cooking,
temperature fluctuations, or dust – but it might not. You can’t afford
to ignore the alert. Everyone in the family needs to react immediately.
o Develop and
practice a HOME ESCAPE PLAN. Make sure your family knows two ways out of each
room, have a safe meeting place outside, how to call 9-1-1 once they are out, and they should NEVER go back into a burning
house.
o West Virginia
State Code requires all property owners to provide and install a working smoke alarm in the vicinity of the sleeping areas.
o For more information
on smoke alarms and home fire safety, please contact your local fire department or visit these websites:
www.nfpa.org
www.usfa.dhs.gov
www.homesafetycouncil.org
