Petaluma Fire Department, Volunteers Install Smoke Alarms At 37 Homes

PETALUMA, CA — On Saturday, Oct. 15 during the Rebuilding Together Petaluma (RTP) workday, volunteers hit the streets completing the installation of life-saving detection and alarm devices in 37 low-income and senior residences in Petaluma.

"Of note, nearly half of the homes serviced did not have a working smoke or carbon monoxide alarm," Petaluma fire Chief Jeff Schach said.

The Petaluma Fire Foundation, a local nonprofit recently created and managed by Petaluma firefighters, purchased and donated the devices through a discount from Friedman Brothers.

The event was coordinated by RTP and the installations were coordinated by the Petaluma Fire Department. Firefighters, scouts from Petaluma Troop 9, and seniors from Casa Grande High School performed the installations.

That same day, the city’s new emergency manager, in coordination with the local nonprofit Emergency Prep Help, provided emergency and disaster preparedness training to roughly 50 local seniors.

What was accomplished:

• 16 batteries were replaced to get those 16 smoke alarms working again
• 38 new smoke alarms were installed
• 24 new carbon monoxide (CO) alarms were installed
• Roughly 50 seniors were trained in personal disaster preparedness and resiliency

View more information about smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, as well as other home fire safety tips, at Cityofpetaluma.org/home-fire-safety/.