Santa Paula Fire Chief Rick Araiza said Kidde’s donation is “both a generous and thoughtful lifesaver. The department - and the community - really appreciate this contribution to the safety of Santa Paula citizens.”According to Kidde Communications Manager Heather Caldwell, hopefully the company’s donation will be just the first step in family safety efforts. “Kidde’s mission is to save lives, and we’re happy to support the Santa Paula Fire Department’s efforts to make their community safer from fire and carbon monoxide,” said Caldwell. “Hopefully this initiative will help remind families of the need for continued home fire safety, and prompt them to develop their own fire safety plan.”Kidde is part of UTC Fire and Security, which provides fire safety and security solutions to more than one million customers worldwide. Headquartered in Connecticut, UTC Fire & Security is a business unit of United Technologies Corporation, which provides high technology products and services to the building and aerospace industries worldwide. More information can be found at www.utcfireandsecurity.com.
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(Left) Santa Paula Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Fildes hands Chuck Fairbanks a free smoke detector. The smoke detectors were available at the Ready Santa Paula display during Cruise Nite last Friday evening. (Photo by Don Johnson) |
Citizens Corps: SP Fire ready to distribute 300 smoke/CO detectors
September 10, 2008
Santa Paula News
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula TimesA chance encounter at a trade show has resulted in a donation of 300 combination smoke/carbon monoxide detectors to the Santa Paula Fire Department (SPFD) that are being distributed free to the community. Andy Van Sciver, a member of Santa Paula Citizens Corps committee and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Upper Ojai Search & Rescue, submitted a grant for the units on behalf of the SPFD after meeting Tom Sri, governmental affairs manager of Kidde, at the Fire Department Instructors Conference held in Indianapolis, Indiana.Van Sciver, account executive for Fire Chief Magazine, submitted a grant application to focus on the southeastern section of Santa Paula, where many residents live in dwellings with older - and potentially dangerous - wall heating units. The next step, he noted, was to notify “faith-based leaders in this part of the community” to announce the availability of the smoke/carbon dioxide detection units, which will be distributed at both Santa Paula Fire Stations as well as at the Las Piedras Park Santa Paula Community Police storefront. “We are utilizing the police storefront, as it is closer to the core community we are trying to reach” to receive the combination detector.Carbon monoxide, with the chemical formula CO, is a colorless, odorless and tasteless yet highly toxic gas. Exposure to carbon monoxide can cause serious injury, including permanent brain damage or even death. Smoke detectors are a must in homes, but CO detectors are also essential to home safety.Kidde - founded more than 90 years ago - is the world’s largest manufacturer of fire safety products. Van Sciver said the only “restrictions” related to receiving the combination detection units are “one per household, and we prefer if they are residents of town or in our response area. Our focus is to reach those in need in our community with these life-saving devices, while still not turning anyone away who asks.”Aside from an alarm if smoke or CO is detected, the units also have an English language voice alert that Van Sciver said should not be a problem for Spanish-only speaking households. “If the unit starts telling you something it means get out.”
