FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Free Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detector Give away Program

Cheshire Fire Department and The Cheshire Jaycee's
”Safe Home" Program

Each year, 5,000 Americans die and 300,000 are hospitalized as a result of 2.8 million residential fires. Almost all house fires allow time for safe exit if an early warning is given. Smoke detectors are an effective, reliable, and inexpensive method of providing such warning. A working smoke and carbon monoxide detector can save your life by warning you of hazardous fire, smoke and dangerous gasses. The Cheshire Fire Department and the Cheshire Jaycees are teaming up to operate a program to provide a free smoke/CO detector to town homeowners without this essential protection. These detectors are recognized as the single most effective life-saving device in the home. Most fire fatalities occur between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., when people are asleep and their natural “fire sensing equipment” is least effective. Fire experts agree that 40-50% of the 5,000 lives lost in residential fires in the country last year could have been saved if the households had used smoke detectors.

The requirements of this program are:

· You must be a Cheshire resident.

· You must be financially or physically in need (ALL responses are kept strictly confidential).

· You must own your home, or be in the process of buying it.

· You must currently not have a detector in working order.

· You must install the smoke detector in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations.

If you meet these requirements, please contact the Cheshire Fire Department at 203-272-1828.  We will arrange for you to pick up a smoke/ Carbon Monoxide detector or for one to be delivered to your home.

The smoke detector program is funded wholly by donations from the Jaycees, and the Cheshire Fire Department. Questions can be directed to Fire Marshal – Jeff Boland at 203-272-1828 or by visiting our website at www.cheshirefd.org