March 28, 2024
Annapolis, US 49 F

Annapolis Fire Department concludes 3-year safety campaign

In May 2014, Mayor Michael Pantelides joined with Fire Chief David L. Stokes, Sr. to ensure every Annapolis residence had a working smoke alarm in their home and, if needed, a carbon monoxide (CO) monitor as part of a new campaign. The Make Annapolis Safe Campaign included knocking on the door of every single-family home and offering to check their smoke and CO devices.

Gavin Buckley - Democrat for Mayor

The Annapolis Fire Department installed the free smoke alarms and free carbon monoxide monitors in area homes after the department received a $10,000 BGE grant that was submitted by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The International Association of Firefighters Local 1926 also donated $1,000 toward the purchase of additional devices, and the American Red Cross teamed up with the fire department to donate smoke alarms and assist with the door-to-door campaign.

“These devices are a necessity in every home,” Mayor Pantelides said.   “The fact that anyone in need of an alarm was able to get one installed on the spot was remarkable. It was incredibly rewarding to walk through the various communities over the years with our firefighters and to talk to the homeowners who were so thankful to receive the lifesaving alarms and monitors for their homes.”

The campaign ended this month during Fire Prevention Week, which ran from October 8th through the 15th.  Over the past three years, crews spent numerous weekends walking and knocking on more than 10,000 doors and installing more than 600 free smoke alarms and more than 200 free CO monitors.

“This has been an amazing campaign with the goal of ensuring Annapolis residents have early warning of a fire in their homes,” Chief Stokes said. “I want to thank all the residents that welcomed us into their homes to inspect their smoke alarms. Our crews enjoyed this process and the opportunity to meet and talk to so many wonderful Annapolis residents.”

The fire department estimates it reached about 30,000 citizens though social and local media during the campaign.

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