County Executive to Highlight Success of the Fire Department’s Home Safety Initiatives for Seniors

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 19, 2015

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

11:30 a.m.

Holiday Park Senior Center 

3950 Ferrara Drive 

Wheaton, Maryland 20906

Montgomery County, MD - - - County Executive Isiah Leggett and Acting Fire Chief Scott Goldstein will be highlighting several fire department initiatives aimed at keeping seniors in the County safe while reminding residents of the life-saving benefits of working smoke alarms.

The fire department recently launched a “Home Safety Check” program for seniors in the County. Initial results from the program indicate that over 90% of smoke alarms checked during recent home visits to seniors were found to be inoperable due to dead or missing batteries, past the 10-year life span for smoke alarms or not present in homes.

To request a free home safety evaluation and smoke alarm check-up, the Fire Department’s “Senior Hotline” is 240-777-2430. Additionally, all County residents are urged to take advantage of the department’s free home safety evaluation program and can call 311 for additional information.

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