ALBANY — The firefighters from the Berkshire fire departments of Berkshire, city of Johnstown, city of Gloversville and the Sir William Johnson will partner with the New York State Fire Chiefs Association Smoke Alarm Installation Project.
The NYSAFC was recently awarded a grant funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency Fire Prevention and Safety grant program for this project where more than 2,500 smoke alarms will be installed across New York.
The local participating fire departments will conduct smoke alarm installation and, at the same time, asses the home for fire and injury risks and provide fire safety education said Deb Finkle, local contact for this program.
Older adults, those aged 65 plus years, have a well-documented increased risk for fire injury and death due to declining sensory and motor capacities and a low prevalence of working smoke alarm in their homes. Individuals who are deaf or hearing-impaired are also at risk for fire injury because they often can not hear the standard smoke alarm alerting them of danger. The Smoke Alarm Installation Project will address fire injury risks by increasing the prevalence of working smoke alarms and providing personalized fire safety education to every recipient household.
The smoke alarms that will be installed through this project will have a long-life battery in a sealed battery compartment and will meet the New York state requirements. Every household, either owned or rented, with a resident living there age 65 or older is eligible.
All smoke alarms and the safety material is free and there are no fees or charges associated with this program. The safety of every older adult in our community is priority.
For those who may be deaf or hearing impaired, the NYSAFC also has the special smoke alarms that incorporate strobe lights and/and or shaker pads and these alarms will be distributed through program also as needed.
“Fire can grow and spread through a home in a matter of minutes, that’s why the advance warning provided by smoke alarms can be essential to savings lives,” the news release stated.
Any age appropriate resident living in the city of Johnstown, city of Gloversville, the Berkshire Fire District or the Sir William Fire District is eligible for this free and life saving program.
For further information or to sign up to be part of the Smoke Alarm Installation Project, please contact Deb Finkle (518) 857-6708.