On March 8, 2004, the Metropolitan fire and EMS services met to discuss the concern over the drastic increase in fire related deaths. So far this year, the area has suffered over 30 fire related deaths when all of last year, Maryland suffered just over 70 fire related deaths.

As a reaction to this devastating increase, the fire and EMS leaders have developed a region wide plan to reach out to the public and bring Fire Prevention and Education back to the front.

In an effort to contribute our part, we will be traveling throughout our communities and knocking on doors. We will not ask for donations or other financial support! Rather, we are going to ask permission to enter your home and check your smoke alarms and smoke alarm batteries. We want to talk about fire escape plans and provide friendly reminders to everyone we can come into contact with.

Additionally, if someone in our area, or anywhere, can not afford or does not have access to or the ability to purchase, check or maintain smoke alarms, we will be prepared to provide them free of charge.

We, as fire and EMS leaders, have become complacent. Now it is time for action. Our mission is to remind everyone that Fire Prevention and Education is not just the second week in October, it needs to be year round!

If anyone has any questions or concerns about this initiative, contact Fire Prevention and Education Officer Timothy Goff, Jr. at 301-274-4488. We hope to work together with each of you to help prevent any further tragic loss of life caused by fire.

For more information on installing and testing your smoke alarms click on the following link:

http://www.nfpa.org/FPW/Fire_Service_Campaign_Toolkit/Safety_Tips/Alarms/alarms.asp

For More information on creating a Home fire escape plan click on the following link:

http://www.nfpa.org/FPW/Fire_Service_Campaign_Toolkit/Safety_Tips/Escape/escape.asp

To develop and practice a home fire escape plan click on the following link (You will need Adobe Acrobat reader to display and print out the planner):

http://www.nfpa.org/PDF/FPWgrid03.pdf?src=nfpa