Smoke Alarm Safety Program Six Times Larger This Year
Posted
Craig Brosman-
Saturday morning, more than 100 volunteers went out in the early morning cold to help spread the word about fire safety.
Saturday was the second year for the Kosciusko County Chapter of The Red Cross’s Project SAFE, or Smoke Alarms For Everyone.
Last year, volunteers spread out and worked the streets of Warsaw and were able to get to 500 homes. This year, with more than 100 volunteers, the project grew to more than 3,000 homes throughout the county.
Kim Komdeur, communications director for the Kosciusko County Red Cross, was excited about the number of volunteers.
“A half dozen of them are normal volunteers,” Komdeur said. “The rest are from the community.”
Komdeur went on to say that they worked with the Kosciusko Fireman’s Association in order to find target areas for Project SAFE.
Warsaw Fire Department Chief Mike Brubaker said that he took what the Red Cross had done the last few years and looked at the data to find target areas.
“We looked at what we had covered the last eight or so years and then looked at the areas with high turnover of renters,” Brubaker said. “We also looked at how long it had been since we had been out to that area, and that’s how we came up with recommended areas to hit with the program.”
Brubaker added that if anyone does not have a smoke alarm to stop by either station in Warsaw and firefighters will assist them in getting a smoke alarm.
“Early warning is the best warning,” Brubaker said.
After speaking with the fireman’s association, Komdeur said the program hit six areas of Kosciusko County.
“We had groups go to Pierceton, North Webster, Syracuse, Milford, Warsaw and Silver Lake,” Komdeur said.
Between this year and last year, the program has grown six fold.
“We will be assessing the size of the program,” Komdeur said. “We want it to grow every year.”
This year it took two to three months to pull the event together, from advertising to sponsors and volunteers.
“We have a great community,” Komdeur said. “The community is unique and they always want to reach out and help others.”
The Red Cross wanted to thank each and every volunteer and sponsor that helped put this year’s event together.
“We would like to thank Silveus Insurance for underwriting; Kosciusko REMC for tote bags to carry materials; Penguin Point Black Tie Catering for the volunteer luncheon; Kosciusko Community Foundation for the luncheon location; Times-Union for free advertising space; Lake City Radio for free PSA announcements; and the Kosciusko County Fire Departments who were instrumental in determining routes as well as sending some firefighter volunteers our way,” Komdeur said.
After each group went house to house on their routes, the Red Cross offered them a hot meal catered by Penguin Point at the Kosciusko Community Foundation.
Many volunteers took time after their route to bring their left over materials back and to grab a warm bite to eat. One of the volunteers, Charlene Tillman, Warsaw, wanted to volunteer and give back for all the Red Cross had done for her family.
“We have been through three house fires,” Tillman said. “The Red Cross has been there for every one of them.
“They gave us clothing, shelter, a place to stay, food. They did everything for us,” Tillman said. “I just wanted to give back. It was a way to say thanks.”
Tillman said she heard the public service announcement on Willie 103.5 and she called in to offer her time.
“We went door to door and handed out literature on fire safety,” Tillman said. “We were given five smoke alarms and we handed out five smoke alarms.”
After surviving three house fires, Tillman said that having the experience helped when talking to those on her route.
“We went to 50 or so houses and only one person told us they didn’t want anything,” Tillman said.
