The Danville Fire Department announced today that 90 carbon monoxide detectors have been delivered to the station’s headquarters and are now available at no cost to residents who qualify.
With the arrival of bitterly cold temperatures, Fire Marshal Shelby Irving urges residents who do not have carbon monoxide detectors in their homes to contact the station immediately.
“Carbon monoxide is a deadly odorless gas emitted from a malfunctioning heating source or appliance,” Irving said. “Without a carbon monoxide detector, you do not know it is in your home until you start feeling sick.”
Many times, it is too late for the victim to realize what is happening, she said.
Assistant Fire Chief Michael Jefferson said carbon monoxide detectors are proven to save lives.
“We want to get these detectors into as many homes as we can,” Jefferson said. “With the temperatures we are experiencing today and will see through the weekend, we know that residents will be using various heating sources to a greater extent.”
The department purchased the detectors with a grant donation from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. They will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis to residents who qualify. Priority is given to single-family households occupied by senior citizens and children. To request a detector, call 434-799-5226 or visit the station headquarters at 600 Lynn St. between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
For five years, the department has operated a carbon monoxide program that provides detectors and installation for residents who cannot afford them. In that time, it has provided and installed more than 200 detectors to residents.
The department also has operated a smoke alarm program since 1999.