Fla. Fire Marshal’s Office, Alliance Hand Out 300 Free Smoke Alarms to Lynn Haven

Florida’s Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Tom Gallagher joined the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes-FLASH Inc. on Friday in Lynn Haven to deliver 300 smoke alarms. The giveaway is part of an ongoing, collaborative effort to provide free smoke alarms to residents in at-risk communities.

Since the program began in 2002, more than 10,000 alarms have been distributed to Florida households.

“At least half of all fire-related deaths can be prevented by a smoke alarm,” Gallagher said. “Our goal is to make sure every Florida home has one of these life-saving devices.”

FLASH, a coalition of government agencies, professional associations and private industry with a common goal to reduce the impacts of natural and manmade disasters, purchases the alarms using corporate grants and donations, and is supported by the Florida Fire & Emergency Services Foundation.

Local fire departments work with the State Fire Marshal to perform safety inspections and smoke alarm installations. In November 2002, a 4-year-old Pensacola boy was saved when his mother was alerted to a house fire 10 days after installation of the free alarm.

“This program has already saved lives, and we are confident that it can again,” said Alliance President Leslie Chapman-Henderson. “We are extremely grateful for our partners, CFO and State Fire Marshal Gallagher and the Florida Fire & Emergency Services Foundation for making the giveaway program possible.”

For more information on fire prevention and home safety, visit FLASH on-line at www.flash.org or the State Fire Marshal’s Office at www.fldfs.com/SFM.