HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
MEDIA ALERT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 23, 2009
Volunteers to Install Several Hundred Smoke Detectors, Saturday
WHAT: Members from the Houston Fire Department, CenterPoint Energy and Council Member Edward Gonzalez, district H and his office will be canvassing a near-north side neighborhood installing several hundred smoke detectors.
WHEN/WHERE: Saturday, October 24, 2009
Volunteers will meet at Fire Station 12, 1502 Alber at 8a.m. and start canvassing the neighborhood from 9 a.m. to noon
DETAILS: The HFD, Council Member Gonzalez and CenterPoint Energy hope to install several hundred smoke detectors in the homes around Fire Station 12 to help prevent a tragedy from happening.This area was chosen due to the high number of incidents and fire related deaths in the area last year.
This effort is made possible by CenterPoint Energy who has contributed $45,000 for the purchase of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors for the past three years.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, the highest percentage of fire deaths are in homes and "fire-safety initiatives targeted at the home remain the key to any reductions in the overall fire death toll."
From Jan.1 to Sept. 30, 2009, HFD responded to more than 1,100 residential fires. This year, the City of Houston has seen 16 citizens, including four children died in home fires. Most of these homes had either a non-working smoke detector or no smoke detector and the victims were found attempting to escape but were overcome by the smoke.
Prevention is key and this includes not only a working smoke detector, but also knowing what to do when you and your children hear the smoke detector sound.
"Everyone may not agree about some things such as healthcare reform," said Fire Chief Phil Boriskie. "But, everyone agrees prevention is the best thing and having a working smoke detector and an escape plan are just two ways to prevent a tragedy from happening to you and your loved-ones."
For more information about smoke detector safety and other related safety tips, citizens may visit the official HFD web site at www.houstonfire.com
