Algood Fire Will Canvas Community With Free Detectors

The Algood Fire Department will be going door-to-door to give out smoke detectors while discussing fire safety Saturday.

Fire Chief David Judd said the department is partnering with American Red Cross to provide and install free smoke detectors to any household they find that needs one. Judd said the event will give citizens a chance to meet their local firefighters and get familiar with them before an emergency happens.

“The best way to put out a fire is to stop it before it begins,” Judd said. “And so getting out there, doing fire safety checks, putting out free smoke detectors, if we can save a life or save property or just give somebody that extra warning, then the good it’s going to do is immeasurable.”

Judd said the department will discuss fire safety plans with citizens to make sure they know what to do if a fire starts in their house. Judd said his team will also be sharing general fire safety advice, such as keeping the door closed overnight to slow a fire down if one begins while people are sleeping.

“For years when I was growing up we left all of our doors open,” Judd said. “And as technology and as we’ve learned more, we now know that closing the door at night, that buys you more time in a fire.”

Judd said he came up with the idea for this event after the department responded to a call from residents with out-of-date smoke detectors. Judd said the department gets free smoke detectors from the state every year to give to the community.

“I think it’s very important for the public to see their fire department at work and see how their tax dollars are being used,” Judd said. “This is my community. Algood’s my home and I feel like everybody in Algood is a family member.”

Judd said the event will focus on the areas around Lane Avenue, Mill Street, R C Buck Drive, Quinland Lake Road, and McCawley Street.

“The way Algood’s grown, it would be impossible to cover the whole city in one day,” Judd said. “We do give out smoke detectors year-round, so if we do not get to your house on this event you can call the fire department and I would be glad to set up a time and a date and come out there and install them for you.”