NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 717.255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
21 June 2006

STATE FIRE COMMISSIONER DONATES SMOKE DETECTORS TO CITY FOR FREE HOME INSTALLATIONS

City residents who are unable to buy home smoke detectors or are unable to do the installation work by themselves can now receive free detectors and installation from the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire, thanks to a sizable donation of the life-saving devices by the Office of PA State Fire Commissioner Edward Mann, Mayor Stephen R. Reed announced today.

Reed said the state’s highest ranking fire service official has donated 50 new home smoke detectors to the city fire agency, which will install them in city homes at the request of any interested resident. The Fire Commissioner is conducting similar donations in communities across the state in an effort to better protect Pennsyl-vanians from injury or death from fires.

The Mayor said smoke detectors have long been recognized as the single most important home safety device, and most communities across the state have laws or ordinances requiring their placement in homes or places where people sleep. Harrisburg was the first city in the state to adopt such an ordinance, which has helped to significantly reduce the number of fires as well as fire injuries and deaths in Pennsylvania’s Capital City.

“Our sincere appreciation is extended to Commissioner Mann,” said Mayor Reed, “because we know well the importance of these simple devices. Home smoke detectors save lives and property, and every homeowner should consider them every bit as important as homeowners insurance or other security devices. Time and again, people are able to flee their burning homes or summon help much faster because of a working home smoke detector. These early warning devices clearly save lives and limit the amount of damage from fire, and not having them installed in your home is both foolhardy and irresponsible. Plus it is illegal.”

Reed said city residents interested in obtaining free home smoke detectors or having them installed should contact the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire at 255.6464.