De Kalb County, Alabama
Monday, September 25, 2006
De Kalb, AL
In 2004 the De Kalb County Fire Department received a grant to create a fire prevention effort. They were able to get 1,000 smoke detectors, 2,000 nine-volt batteries, a laptop computer, an LCD projector, and a series of fire prevention videos and classroom supplies. Since then they have conducted an extensive smoke detector training program. Many of the members went out to install smoke detectors in homes throughout the county on their own time.
They now conduct fire training programs in all of the county’s schools. They have visited every third, fourth, and fifth grade class in each of the elementary schools. They have taught other programs in each of the other schools. They also conduct senior citizen’s fire training at the senior centers throughout the county.
The department is extremely proud of the fact that they have recorded two actual saves in homes that received fire department-installed smoke detectors. In both cases the families were able to evacuate without any injuries. In one case, the department was notified in time to response and save the home. These are two more critical saves that can be chalked up in the plus column for the FIRE Act.
