For Immediate Release: 6/11/2015 3:40 pm
Worcester, MA (June 11, 2015) - In the wake of two fatal house fires in Worcester this past spring, after nearly four years without the City recording a fatal home fire, Worcester fire officials and local leaders next week will discuss fire safety and distribute smoke alarms to the City's most at-risk residents.
Officials and local leaders will gather at 3:30 PM Monday, June 15th at 76 Paine Street, Worcester, to discuss the importance of working smoke alarms and other safety measures that can save lives and reduce the risks that firefighters face.
Mayor Joseph Petty, District Two City Councilor Phil Palmieri, Public Safety Subcommittee Chair City Councilor Morris Bergman, City Manager Ed Augustus, Worcester Fire Chief Gerard Dio, WFD Lieutenant Annmarie Pickett and Neal Zipser, the Community Affairs Manager at Kidde Fire Safety, will outline the efforts that the fire department is taking to help improve fire safety and discuss how residents can maximize their safety.
Kidde Fire Safety, a global leading manufacturer of residential fire safety products, will donate 150 of its Worry Free smoke alarms and 50 Worry Free carbon monoxide (CO) alarms. Both alarms contain sealed batteries which offer nonstop power for 10 years.
Following a brief speaking program, there will be a client testimonial about the City's smoke alarm installation program and a photo opportunity. Later in the week, Lt. Pickett and a team will conduct neighborhood educational sweeps to distribute the smoke detectors. They will also perform home safety inspections.
About 3,000 people die in the United States each year as a result of home fires. Most fatal fires occur in homes with either no alarm or no working alarm. Dead or missing batteries are the number one cause of smoke alarms that do not work during a fire.
So far in 2015, 21 Massachusetts residents have died as a result of home fires. In 2014, 43 people died in Massachusetts as a result of home fires. (Source: United States Fire Administration fire fatalities report).
