ROCKWELL — The Rockwell Rural Fire Department has received a grant to distribute free smoke alarms to homes in its jurisdiction.
The agency will host a home safety session at 11 a.m. April 10 at the Fire Department, 320 Link St., to provide details and to schedule times for alarm installations.
The safety session will be on a first-come, first-served basis for 30 residences. To reserve spot, call 704-223-4881 or 704-279-2171. Lunch will be provided afterwards.
Rockwell Rural is one of 50 fire departments in the state that received the grant from the Office of State Fire Marshal for the distribution of long-life smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms and alarms for the hearing-impaired.
Rookie Firefighter Bobbi Thomas wrote the grant to identify areas with the most need and the highest rate for fire injuries and fatalities and to provide education, safety checks, and install long-life smoke alarms.
Thomas will make community group presentations and implement a community canvassing project to provide education and smoke alarms, as needed. Firefighters will determine the best locations for alarms in each home and will install them.
The overall goal of this project is to reduce home fire deaths and injuries to North Carolina residents.
This grant provides the 50 departments with the resources to conduct the door-to-door home safety visits or group presentations, funding for the alarms, a tool kit for alarm installation, safety incentives, educational materials, fire and fall training program and group presentation kits.
A team from each grant-winning department attended a one day “train the trainer workshop” to learn the goals and guidelines of the grant and pick up resources. Thomas attend the workshop, along with community representative Kim Sheeks.