Stafety Partners

EAST PROVIDENCE—Thousands of lives are lost annually because homes or other places of residence either lack adequate fire alarm systems or use outdated ones.

Several local organizations recently aligned to ensure families stay safe. Volunteers from The American Red Cross/Rhode Island Chapter, the East Providence Fire Department and Keller Williams Realty, Leading Edge toured the city installing new smoke alarms and educating residents on having an escape plan, proper ventilation and other tactics that may prevent danger.

Elizabeth McDonald, Senior Director of Emergency Services, said they group performed 137 installations during its recent campaign. She said this effort is part of a national effort to prevent fire-related deaths. So far, 235 lives were saved since the start of the campaign, with efforts to decrease the number of residential fire deaths by 5% over the next five years.

“The American Red Cross responds to home fires and other disasters, nearly 64,000 a year,” said McDonald, who has worked for The American Red Cross for 25 years. “In these situations, we deal with the families after the fire—trying to take care of their immediate, emergency needs and help families get back on their feet. The faster fires are detected, the less damage that occurs, and the more time that people have to get out. Smoke alarms save lives!”

City Fire Marshal Capt. Kenneth Botelho and Asst. Fire Marshal Lt. Thomas Trainor, who helped to coordinate these efforts, spoke with the teams before they went about the installation process and provided education pointers. Volunteers from The Red Cross, East Providence Fire Department, and Keller Williams Realty, Leading Edge together visited each home. They spoke with residents about fire safety while other volunteers on the team installed smoke detectors.

The program took roughly 20 minutes at each stop. Keller William Realty, Leading Edge Volunteer Tom Keith of Cranston and Red Cross Volunteer Bob Foti (Rumford), were among the teams that installed the new fire alarm systems, which numbered up to three new devices in

Trainer said that programs such as the Home Fire Preparedness Campaign works for two reasons. The first helps keep the city safe in the event of a fire. Second, it provides the EPFD with a chance to be more involved with the community and provide residents with answers to their questions or concerns.

He said having programs regarding this one are not only important for the public to take advantage of, but also for the Department to be proactive within the city.

“The majority of fires that we see often happen because of an accident,” said Trainer. “Many of them could have been prevented with a working smoke system. Many people do not realize that the older alarms fail after five years if they do not replace the battery. The newer models last 10 years, and there is no battery to replace.”

Paul W. Cutler of Keller Williams Realty, Leading Edge, and a Burrillville resident, said the opportunity to help came by chance. Cutler said he met MacDonald at an open house and they got to talking. When MacDonald said they were holding this event, Cutler said that fit in with the Realty’s RED Day Initiative, when the agency closes its doors for one day to get involved in the community.

Cutler’s colleague, Stephen Thibodeau, said the agency worked on several projects including building homes for Habitat for Humanity as one example. He said it was a simple choice to sign on for this project.

We have been doing RED Day since I began working here 12 years ago,” said Thibodeau, who works in the East Side as the Operating Principal. “This program fits in with our culture and community partnership mission.”

McDonald said more of these events are coming up throughout the state, including one in Coventry this summer and more in the fall. For more information about this and other event, please call 401-831-7700 or visit them on the web at: http://www.redcross.org/local/rhode-island.

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PHOTO CAPTIONS:

Members of the Home Fire Preparedness Campaign toured East Providence installing new smoke alarms for residents. Pictured (L to R:) Asst. Fire Marshal Lt. Thomas Trainor, Wayne Barnes, East Providence Emergency Management, Keller Williams Realty, Leading Edge Operating Principal Stephen Thibodeau, Fire Marshal Capt. Kenneth Botelho, Elizabeth McDonald, Senior Director of Emergency Services, American Red Cross and Paul W. Cutler, Keller Williams Realty, Leading Edge Realtor.

Keller William Realty, Leading Edge Volunteer Tom Keith of Cranston helps install a new fire alarm system for a local resident during the Home Fire Preparedness Campaign.

Red Cross Volunteer Tom Foti helps install a new fire alarm system for a local resident during the Home Fire Preparedness Campaign.

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