Chad Abshire
Staff Writer
PIKEVILLE, Ky. — A total of 250 Pike County homes will have smoke detectors installed by way of a partnership between the Kentucky Public Protection Cabinet’s Division of Fire Protection, the Pike County Firefighter’s Association and the Kidde Company.
A press conference at the Pikeville Fire Department Training Center detailed plans for the initiative, with multiple people noting the program’s importance.
“Your job is the same as mine,” Pike County Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford said to those in attendance, the majority of them being firefighters. “We have to keep the citizens of Pike County safe, and that is why we are here today.”
A fire that killed four children, their father and seriously injured their mother earlier this month in the small community of Jonancy brought attention to the dangers of living in a house without a smoke alarm.
Kidde, which is a brand and division of United Technologies Corporation, is a manufacturer of fire safety products including smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms and fire extinguishers. The Melbane, N.C.-based company donated 250 smoke detectors for the county-wide initiative.
Pike County Emergency Services Director, Doug Tackett, who is also the county’s fire department coordinator, said the free smoke detectors were another step toward safety and education.
“We know fires are going to happen,” Tackett said. “What we are trying to do with the fire safety trailer, going into schools and now the smoke detectors is to try and educate people and take preventative measures so in the event of a fire, the likelihood of a casualty or casualties will be drastically minimized.”
William Swope, Director of the Division of Fire Prevention, thanked Kidde for “stepping forward to provide these smoke alarms and for helping increase awareness of the importance of installing smoke detectors in residences.”
“We are about to embark on an initiative that is vital to preventing loss,” Swope said.
He also noted that smoke alarms were just one component in a complete fire safety home escape plan.
“Kentucky families should take time together to map out a plan for escaping a home fire that includes two emergency exits and then practice the plan,” Swope said.
He also noted the dangers in using heating equipment during the winter months, including furnaces, fireplaces, wood stoves and portable heaters.
“Keep anything that can burn at least three-feet away from heating equipment and remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed,” he said.
In order to receive a free smoke detector, contact your local fire department in any way — phone calls, e-mail, facebook — and simply request a detector. Your name will then be added to a list and that list will be taken to Randy Courtney, President of the Kentucky Firefighters Association, and disbursed through local fire departments.
Taking the safety one step further, a member of your local fire department will install the smoke detector for those who receive one, to ensure proper location and installation.
Contact the following department that serves your area:
• Sycamore React Volunteer Fire Department
10381 Elkhorn CRK
Ashcamp, KY
(606) 754-4698
• Ferrells Creek Area Volunteer Fire Department
Ferrells Creek Road HWY
Belcher, KY 41513
(606) 754-8135
• Belfry Volunteer Fire Department, LTD
25370 US HWY 119 N
Belfry, KY 41514
(606) 353-8026
• Big Creek Volunteer Fire Department
17397 E Big Creek RD
Canada, KY
(606) 353-9409
• Dorton Volunteer Fire Department
PO Box 250
Dorton, KY 41520
(606) 639-8165
• Kimper Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department
104 Fire Station RD
Kimper, KY 41539
(606) 631-9617
• Lookout Volunteer Fire and Rescue
PO Box 56
Lookout, KY
(606) 754-8691
• Phelps Volunteer Fire and Rescue
ST HWY 632 E
Phelps, KY 41553
(606) 456-3642
• Coal Run Village Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.
93 Church ST
Pikeville, KY
(606) 432-5801
• Gulnare Volunteer Fire Department
55 Sycamore Mt. RD
Pikeville, KY 41501
(606) 432-8502
• Hurricane Creek Volunteer Fire Department
2981 Hurricane Creek Rd.
Pikeville, KY 41501
(606) 478-2222
• Hurricane Creek Volunteer Fire Department Station 2
75 red bird layne
Pikeville, KY 41501
(606) 478-2222
• Island Creek Volunteer Fire Department
2687 Island Creek RD
Pikeville, KY
(606) 433-9777
• Johns Creek Fire Department
8094 Meta HWY
Pikeville, KY
(606) 631-1826
• Millard East Shelbiana Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Inc.
5200 East Shelbiana Rd.
Pikeville, KY 41501
(606) 432-3443
• Pikeville Fire and Ambulance Service
104 Chloe Road
Pikeville, KY 41501
(606) 437-5120
• Upper Pond Creek Fire Department
3663 Upper Pond Creek RD
Pinsonfork, KY 41555
(606) 353-9775
• Marrowbone Volunteer Fire Department
Regina, KY
(606) 754-5511
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