North Penn Fire Company offering free smoke detectors

The North Penn Volunteer Fire Company is inviting local residents to accept a free smoke detector as the department celebrates “Operation: Save a Life.”

“Smoke detectors play a major role in increasing safety and saving lives in a fire. We’re not just here to fight fires, we are here to prevent them too,” said North Penn Fire Chief Don Holt.

Over 50 smoke detectors are available for local residents to pick up, at no cost, at the company’s firehouse at 141 S. Main St. at 7 p.m. on Monday evenings. The North Penn Volunteer Fire Company covers North Wales Borough and parts of Lower Gwynedd Township, and in a fire company statement released Thursday, the company said the detectors are provided by a partnership between smoke detector manufacturer Kidde and 6ABC to increase awareness and overall fire preparedness.

“We’re grateful for receiving this donation and are now focused on distributing these detectors to be used by community members as soon as possible,” Holt said.

Approximately three out of every five fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or malfunctioning smoke alarms, according to the National Fire Protection Agency. Residential properties are currently required to have working smoke detectors in each bedroom, and the NFPA recommends smoke detectors be placed outside of every sleeping area and on all levels of a residents, according to the fire company. Smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years, and those available from the fire company are Kidde 10-year lithium powered smoke detectors.

Those unable to attend the Monday night donation times can also contact the fire company by emailing publicrelations@northpennfire.com or on Facebook by searching and messaging “North Penn Volunteer Fire Company.”