The Linden Fire Department has partnered with the American Red Cross to give away and install free smoke detector a cd larms to its residents as part of its Fire Safety Campaign.
As a kickoff to the campaign, this past Saturday, the Linden Fire Department and Red Cross volunteers canvassed door to door in an area of Linden’s 5th Ward, installing smoke detector alarms and passing out fire safety information.
The smoke detector alarm campaign’s goal is to help reduce home fire related injuries and deaths.
By having a working smoke detector in your home it can cut the risk of death from home fires in half.
The canvassing area covered 490 homes and the teams installed 69 detectors.
Among the people on hand for this kickoff were Mayor Derek Armstead, Linden Fire Chief Joseph Dooley, 5th Ward Councilwoman Rhashonna Cosby-Hurling and 8th Ward Councilwoman Michele Yamakaitis.
Chief Joseph Dooley stated “This is an exciting opportunity for both the Linden Fire Department and American Red Cross; usually we work together in disaster relief after something bad has happened. This program gives us a chance to work to together to prevent disasters from happening.”
Linden F.M.B.A. Firefighter’s Local 34 and Fire Officer’s Local 234 volunteers played a big part in the instillation of the smoke detector alarms during the event, handling all the installations.
Along with the Red Cross and the Linden Fire Department, the Linden High School ROTC members assisted with the canvassing of the ward. “We are grateful for the assistance of the LHS ROTC. They have for years been an example of the quality of Linden’s Youth.”
Mayor Armstead said, “I would like to thank the American Red Cross and Linden Fire Department for their efforts keeping our community safe because smoke detector early response saves lives,"
If there are residents that do not reside in the 5th Ward canvassing area and would like the Linden Fire Department to install a free smoke detector alarm, they may call Linden Fire Prevention Bureau at (908) 474-4560.
This is only the first step in this safety campaign, the Linden Fire Department and Red Cross hope to canvas all of Linden’s 10 wards.
Photos: Linden Fire Department