Christie Administration to Distribute 11,000 Smoke Detectors to Eligible New Jersey Residents

Department of Community Affairs Partners with WABC-TV for

Operation 7: Save a Life Public Safety Campaign

 

TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Lori Grifa today announced that the Division of Fire Safety will distribute approximately 11,000 free smoke detectors this year to eligible New Jersey residents. The public safety campaign is made possible through the Division of Fire Safety's involvement in the Operation 7: Save a Life program sponsored by WABC-TV, Channel 7 in New York City.

"For more than 10 years, our Division of Fire Safety has partnered with the Operation 7: Save a Life campaign and has achieved outstanding results," said Commissioner Grifa. "The Division has distributed well over 150,000 smoke detectors to people who otherwise couldn't afford them and, in the process, helped protect households from the extreme danger of fire."

The Division of Fire Safety just received this year's smoke detectors and is in the process of handing them out to local fire departments and community organizations in the television station's viewing area, which includes North Jersey and much of Central Jersey. Local firefighters will focus on getting the detectors to senior citizens, lower-income residents, and households with children.

Operation 7: Save a Life seeks to increase public awareness about fire safety and prevention and focuses on how to prepare for and handle emergency situations. Smoke detectors are distributed as part of the program. The detectors are donated by Kiddie.

 

Smoke detectors should be placed, at minimum, on each floor of a home, outside of all sleeping areas, and in the basement. They should be tested monthly and their batteries should be replaced twice a year when the clocks are changed. Smoke alarms older than 10 years should be replaced.

The Division of Fire Safety is the central fire service agency in the State of New Jersey, responsible for the development and enforcement of the State Uniform Fire Code, public education programs and firefighter training programs.

Fire departments or community organizations wishing to receive smoke detectors should contact the Division of Fire Safety at (609) 633-6432. For further information on the Division of Fire Safety, please log on to http://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/dfs/.

 

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