Mayor Joseph P. Ganim Fire Department
Bridgeport, CT Chief Richard Thode
For Immediate Release For More Information:
October 7, 2016 Av Harris (203) 814-7992
av.harris@bridgeportct.gov
-Press Release-
Mayor Ganim, Bridgeport Fire Dept. Mark Fire Prevention Week by Installing 50,000th Free Smoke Detector
Bridgeport Fire Department Saves Taxpayers an Additional $120,000 by Taking Over Purchase and Installation of Smoke Detectors at No Cost to City Residents – All are Eligible to Participate
Bridgeport, CT – Mayor Joe Ganim today joined Fire Chief Richard Thode and other city fire officials to mark National Fire Prevention Week by installing the 50,000th free smoke detector in Bridgeport since the Free Smoke Alarm program launched in Bridgeport in 2005. Mayor Ganim joined Bridgeport Fire Chief Richard Thode and Deputy Chief Lance Edwards to install the newest free smoke detector at a house on Lorraine Terrace.
“This terrific free smoke alarm program is now protecting the lives of thousands of Bridgeport residents,” said Mayor Ganim. “It may not seem like a lot, but this little smoke detector device can make the difference in surviving a fire by giving people precious seconds to exit the building alive. I encourage all residents to check and see if you need a smoke detector and or if it’s working. If you need a new one, call us!”
“Installing a smoke detector in your house will literally save lives,” said Bridgeport Fire Chief Richard Thode. “The Fire Department is now installing smoke detectors city for free and any Bridgeport resident is eligible to participate. I encourage anyone who does not have smoke detectors installed in their house or apartment to contact us immediately and we will even do the installation. So please, contact us to get your free smoke detector at (203) 335-8835 or email bridgeport.fire@bridgeportct.gov.”
In previous years, the “Free Smoke Alarm Program” was operated by private vendor. The program is now supervised and executed by the Bridgeport Fire Department, saving Bridgeport taxpayers $120,000. The program began with funding from grants but eventually, the endowment ran out leaving the city with the decision to continue or end the program. The decision was made to continue the life-saving program, so for the past seven years the City has included the cost in the budget. This year the Fire Department purchased 4,000 smoke detectors each equipped with ten-year lithium batteries.
The Fire Department has also begun a new outreach program. After a fire breaks out, the fire department will go door-to-door in the surrounding area with flyers about the “Free Smoke Alarm Program” to educate the residents about fire safety.
Through the “Free Smoke Alarm Program,” all Bridgeport residents are eligible to have smoke alarms installed in their homes for free. Ninety percent of fire deaths involving children occur in homes without smoke alarms. Many of these deaths could be avoided with working smoke alarms. By providing an early warning signal, the smoke detectors are a family’s best defense against fire. The Fire Department is encouraging residents to call (203) 335-8835 or email bridgeport.fire@bridgeportct.gov to have smoke detectors installed in their home or for more information.
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