Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 6-12

ROSEVILLE/EASTPOINTE — October is National Fire Safety Month — with Fire Prevention Week designated as Oct. 6-12 this year — and the Eastpointe and Roseville fire departments are promoting fire safety in different ways.

This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you,” is designed to educate everyone about the importance of having working smoke alarms in the home.

 

Roseville
On Sept. 29, Roseville held its annual open house in which residents participated in a number of activities. The live burn house was on display, there were CPR demonstrations, a chance for kids to spray a fire hose and more.

“We really had a good turnout,” Fire Marshal Bill Ciner said. “We’re trying to educate (our residents) and trying to involve them.”

Ciner said that state grant money has made it possible for the department to provide smoke detectors to Roseville homeowners. Firefighters will come to the house to install the smoke detectors and conduct fire safety inspections of the home. They are done during the day and take about 30 minutes.

Firefighters also will install carbon monoxide detectors, but homeowners must purchase those on their own. It’s best to install those near the furnace and hot water heater. Homeowners interested in a fire safety inspection can call the Roseville Fire Prevention Division at (586) 445-5458 or email fire@roseville-mi.gov to schedule an appointment.

It’s recommended to have a smoke detector in each room of the house and on every level of the home. It’s also important to have two different escape plans in which you can get out of the home within two minutes.

“Nowadays fires are burning a lot faster,” Ciner said. “Devise a fire safety plan and practice it. Have two ways to get out.”

As of Sept. 30, 2024, Michigan has had 70 fires resulting in 73 deaths this year, according to the Michigan Fire Inspectors Society. Ciner said Roseville has had two fatal fires this year. One person died at each fire.

“Sleeping with the doors closed will prevent the smoke and fire getting inside the bedrooms,” Ciner said.

People also need to be careful when using space heaters and when lighting up cigarettes.

“Smoking is still the No. 1 cause that starts a fire,” Ciner said.

Throughout October, the Roseville firefighters/paramedics are wearing specially designed T-shirts on duty in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Shirts were for sale at the open house. The T-shirts can still be purchased and are available during business hours at the Roseville City Clerk’s Office, located inside the City Hall complex at 29777 Civic Center Blvd. The cost is $20 per shirt.   

The Roseville Fire Fighters Union Local No. 1614 will donate a portion of the shirt proceeds to a resident to be named later. The remaining money will go into the union’s charity account to sponsor local families for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

Eastpointe
To highlight fire safety tips for National Fire Safety Month, Eastpointe Fire Marshal Alton Polk purchased numerous materials that he will distribute to schools for first and second grade students. The materials include workbooks, drawstring bags and more that contain fire safety information.

He’s hopeful the students will share the material with their parents. If Polk has time, he also will stop inside classrooms to talk about fire safety with students, but with a staff shortage, it might not be possible.

“We have low manpower since COVID and we’re trying to get back with having a full staff again,” the fire marshal said, adding that it’s an issue for many departments.

Polk reminded residents to have an escape plan at home should a fire occur and confirm a designated meeting place outside. Heat rises, so when escaping a fire, stay low to the ground to breathe better. Also, make sure smoke detectors are working properly, and don’t forget to check the batteries twice a year during daylight saving time.

“Keep paths free in the house and don’t grab anything to get out of the house,” Polk said. “Everything is replaceable, but your life is not.”

Children are advised not to play with matches, and if they are cooking, make sure an adult is there to supervise. Another tip is not to use kitchen appliances to heat the house.

The Eastpointe Fire Department recently donated its aerial ladder firetruck to Macomb Community College’s Public Service Institute, which offers a fire academy that prepares individuals for certification as firefighters.

The donated vehicle, a 100-foot, 1998 Sutphen aerial ladder truck, was recently upgraded by Eastpointe and passed all necessary inspections, including ladder testing. The truck will be used for advanced fire suppression training and aerial exercises.

“The fire department was extremely pleased that the Eastpointe City Council approved the measure to be able to donate the ladder truck to Macomb Community College,” Eastpointe Fire Chief Brian Marquardt said in a prepared statement. “Over the last 26 years, this apparatus has served the residents of the city by responding to all of the structure fires in Eastpointe, as well as responding to the surrounding communities for auto-aid and mutual-aid. Eastpointe firefighters, current and past, have responded to many fires in this ladder truck and we look forward to knowing that the new firefighters in the Academy will be trained on that same piece of equipment.”

Last spring, Eastpointe received a new firetruck to replace the 1998 model. The new state-of-the-art vehicle, which arrived March 8, was purchased for $1.3 million.