The Van Wert County Courthouse

Thursday, Mar. 28, 2024

Chiefs’ program buys smoke detectors

VW independent/submitted information

Van Wert County fire chiefs, in conjunction with Van Wert Fire Equipment and The Van Wert County Foundation, distributed 400 smoke detectors to kindergarten students in Van Wert County. The detectors have a 10-year sealed battery unit, and these were issued during Fire Prevention Week.

Van Wert Fire Department Captain Craig King, who is also Middle Point fire chief, is shown discussing the importance of having a functioning smoke detector to students in Amy Smith’s kindergarten class at the Van Wert Early Childhood Center. (photo submitted)
Van Wert Fire Department Captain Craig King, who is also Middle Point fire chief, is shown discussing the importance of having a functioning smoke detector to students in Amy Smith’s kindergarten class at the Van Wert Early Childhood Center. (photo submitted)

This is the second year of the program and follows up from 2014 when the county chiefs distributed nearly 4,000 smoke detectors to students in grades K-9.  The program involves children in the following school districts: Crestview, Delphos Jefferson, Delphos St. John’s, Lincolnview, Spencerville, Parkway, Van Wert and Wayne Trace.

The program is done through donated funds in an account managed by the foundation. Contributions are greatly appreciated and checks can be made to “County Smoke Detector Fund” and mailed directly to the Van Wert County Foundation, 138 E. Main St., Van Wert, OH 45891, or turned in to any of the county fire departments.

During the past year, one house fire occurred in a home that had a smoke detector from the program installed and operating, and which alerted the occupants, all of whom escaped safely from the structure.

The goal of the chiefs’ program is to have functioning smoke detectors in every house that has children in it. This will increase the odds of a fire being detected early, alerting occupants to leave the house immediately and go to a safe area.

For more information, residents can contact any of the county fire chiefs: Convoy Fire Chief Gary Kreischer, Middle Point Fire Chief Craig King, Ohio City Fire Chief Brandon Bowen, Scott Fire Chief Jay Klopfenstein, Van Wert Fire Chief Jim Steele, Wren Fire Chief Mike Marchek and Willshire Fire Chief Dwight Sheets.

For those who have a removable battery-operated smoke detector, it is a good practice to change batteries when one changes clocks before and after Daylight Savings Time.

POSTED: 10/31/15 at 8:04 am. FILED UNDER: News