Westminster : Firefighters Donate Time Installing Smoke Sensors

“I feel a lot better, a lot safer,” said 62-year-old Loretta Darby Friday morning after off-duty firefighter John Kuhn installed a smoke detector in the Garnet Street home in which she and her husband, Richard, 67, live.

“What’s even more wonderful is that the boy (Kuhn) is off today, donating his time,” she added.

Kuhn was at the Darby home installing the 400th smoke detector since November in a program sponsored by the Westminster Fire Fighters’ Assn. The detectors are supplied by a $20,000 federal grant, and recipients must be senior citizens, disabled or have low incomes.

The service is at no charge to the residents, and members of the firefighters’ union have donated more than 180 hours of their own time to install the devices since the program began.

“If we can save just one life, the whole program will be worthwhile,” said Battalion Chief Allan White, a member of the smoke detector committee who was at the Darby home.

To date, about 80% of the life-saving devices have been installed in homes of the elderly, about 15% in low-income residences and 5% in homes of disabled residents, White said. The program will be continued through the end of the year, although the thrust will be more toward low-income residents than it has been, he said.

Loretta Darby said she first heard about the program in a local newspaper. An old smoke detector in her home was inspected by firefighters and found to be defective.

“It wasn’t very dependable,” she said. “I feel a lot better about having this one, which senses heat as well as smoke.”

The smoke alarms have photoelectric cells that detect a buildup of smoke or carbon monoxide, a firefighter explained. Powered by a single battery, they should operate for a full year. To make sure all is well, the firefighters will begin reminding recipients after 11 months have gone by to test the batteries by pushing a button. They will also install new batteries.

Applications are available at the city’s three fire stations or by calling 893-0571.