LITTLE ROCK — The Little Rock Fire Department on Monday will introduce new volunteers who will install free smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors for Little Rock residents, the agency said.
The department has been offering this service of installing free smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors for several years, Capt. Dennis McCann said. This program is called the "Save a Life Smoke Alarm program."
"We're trying to introduce the Fire Corps volunteers today," McCann said.
Fire Corps is a national organization that uses a volunteers to help fire departments with nonemergency functions, a news release states.
McCann said the volunteers will help with functions like the Arkansas Children's Hospital toy drive, the Clinton library's "Back to School Bash" and the "Save a Life Smoke Alarm program."
The Fire Department received the Fire Prevention and Safety grant from Federal Emergency Management Agency to support the free smoke alarm.
"The grant money got us 1,500 smoke alarms [that will last] 10 years," McCann said. "Once we put them in, nothing has to be done for 10 years."
Carbon monoxide detectors are also available for residents with gas appliances. The FEMA grant allowed the Fire Department to purchase 500 of these detectors. The grant also allowed for the Fire Department to purchase shirts and supplies for the Fire Corps volunteers to use while they are working for the department.
Along with installing free smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, Fire Corps will conduct home fire-safety inspections, the Fire Department said.
Up to three smoke alarms and one carbon monoxide detector can be installed if needed, the department said.
McCann said for a person to receive one of these free services, all he has to do is call (501) 918-3750 and give the Fire Department his name and address, and a Fire Corps volunteer will arrive and install the smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector.
"Call us if you need it," McCann said. There is no income restriction, although those living in apartment complexes do not qualify for the service, McCann said.
More information is available by calling fire Capt. Randy Hickmon at (501) 912-4829.