Alexandria Fire Department Begins Distribution of Free Smoke Alarms to City Residents

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November 2011

The Alexandria Fire Department has begun the distribution of 1000 smoke and combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to residents of the City of Alexandria as a result of a partnership with the Institute of Fire Engineers through a grant by the Department of Homeland Security Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Program.  The Alexandria Fire Department has received 500 ten year Lithium powered smoke alarms, 400 combination smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarms, and 100 smoke alarms for the hearing impaired.  The Department will provide and install these alarms free of charge to City residents.  To request an alarm, contact Mr. Doug Townshend at 703.746.5274.  Certain restrictions apply.

The Alexandria Fire Department received a $124,118 portion of the Institution of Fire Engineers-USA Branch grant award totaling $949,000 by the Department of Homeland Security Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Program which continues the work of the landmark Vision 20/20 project (www.strategicfire.org).  The grant award allows the Department to continue its commitment to fire prevention and fire safety. The Department will provide and install smoke/carbon monoxide alarms to Alexandria residents and will educate residents on the importance of maintaining such alarms.  In addition, funds from this grant award will go towards the purchase and distribution of outreach materials which are designed to increase the community’s awareness of the advantages of early detection of smoke, fire and carbon monoxide. 

Vision 20/20 has played a central role since its inception in 2007 in bringing together the Nation’s fire safety organizations to develop common strategies for reducing the loss of life and injury from fire.  This grant will expand the Community Risk Reduction concepts in five communities, including Alexandria (VA), Cleveland (OH), Palm Beach County (FL), Rosemount (MN) and Washington (DC) to build on the recommendations from previous grass-roots efforts in various U.S. cities and in the United Kingdom. 

There are five strategies that have been collaboratively developed, including:

• Increase advocacy for fire prevention
• Conduct a national safety education/social marketing campaign
• Raise the importance of fire prevention within the fire service
• Promote technology to enhance fire and life safety
• Refine and improve the application of codes and standards that enhance public and fire fighter safety and preserve community assets
  

For more information, visit Vision 20/20 at www.strategicfire.org/ and the Institution of Fire Engineers-USA Branch at www.ife-usa.org.



Author:Alexandria Fire Department Press Release