Red Cross and Middleport FD install 164 new smoke detectors in village

By Drew Conde

MIDDLEPORT – The American Red Cross is teaming up with The Middleport Fire Department for a smoke detector campaign.

Saturday volunteers from The American Red Cross along with members of The Middleport Fire Department went door to door in the village to ask residents to allow them to install smoke detectors in their homes. Six crews comprised of firemen and Red Cross volunteers were able to install 164 new detectors.

John Eckelberry who is the coordinator of the Home Fire Preparedness Campaign for The American Red Cross in Meigs, Athens, and Morgan Counties said that the smoke detectors installed will be maintenance free and will last for ten years. Eckelberry said that during the ten year life span of the smoke detectors, residents will not need to change the batteries. He stated that if a home has three smoke detectors installed that residents could save around $120.

Eckelberry said that the goal of the program is to reduce the loss of life and property due to residential structure fires. He said that so far this year, the campaign has installed approximately 1,200 smoke detectors to date prior to the work in Middleport. He noted that Middleport will be the first area in Meigs County to take part in the program, but added that he hopes to eventually expand the program to other communities in the County.

Eckelberry said that smoke detectors are crucial to have in any home but even more so for Small Town America. He said that areas that don’t have fulltime staffed fire departments rely on their volunteers. Often times volunteers have to respond to the station from their homes or from work, so early detection of a fire is critical. He states that homeowners who don’t currently own a smoke detector should try their best to get in touch with a licensed electrician from a site similar to Kalahari Electrical Services (kalahari-electrical.com/smoke-detectors/), as they may be able to ensure that smoke detectors are properly installed.

Eckelberry said that the smoke detectors did not cost the residents, the Middleport Fire Department, or the Village of Middleport any money. He said that the average time spent inside of a residence during the install is about twenty minutes and all trash from the install is taken away by members of the organizations. He also wanted to stress to residents from other communities that may want to participate in the program that they will not be solicited for any dontaions or placed on any mailing lists. The program will be completely free.