Haddam Fire Auxiliary Makes Smoke Detectors Available

No one wants to hear that residents are lost in a house fire.  Having working smoke detectors is the best way to prevent this tragedy from happening.  Early in the morning of December 25, 2011, a Stamford family awoke to their house on fire.  While several members did manage to get out with minor injuries, two children and their grand parents were lost.  It was later determined that there were no working smoke detectors in the house.

“I think we should do everything possible not to allow this to happen in our town,” says Donna Turnage a member of the Haddam Volunteer Fire Auxiliary.  “If there are people who may not be able to afford working smoke detectors, we should find a way to help them” she goes on to say.

Donna brought the issue to a meeting of the Auxiliary and it was decided to purchase a number of the latest detectors, and through Candy Casale at the Haddam Public Health Office, make them available to anyone who cannot afford one on their own.

“Smoke detectors should be tested and replaced in accordance with the Manufacturer’s guidelines” Turnage said.  “It is the intention of the Fire Company Auxiliary to help never have what happened in Stamford take place in Haddam.”

Recently, the Fire Company responded to a house that was filling with smoke.  It was learned that the smoke detectors did not go off because the home owners had removed the batteries while they were doing work.  At the end of the day, they did not put the batteries in and some how luckily awoke to the smell of smoke before a fire got out of control.  It is very simple.  DO NOT sleep in a house without a working smoke detector in every sleeping area.

Residents who need one of the smoke detectors or do not have the funds to purchase new batteries for their existing detectors can contact Candy Casale at the Haddam Public Health Office.

More information on the activities of the Haddam Volunteer Fire Co. and ways you can get involved can be found on our website – www.HaddamFire.com.