CARRSVILLE
The Carrsville Volunteer Fire Department was selected by the National Fire Protection Association to receive the 2016 Rolf H. Jenson Memorial Public Education Grant. The grant is presented each year to a local fire department to support a community -wide fire and life safety education program or campaign.

“The selection committee was impressed with your department’s fire safety and education program for older adults and smoke alarm installation campaign, ‘Carrsville Loves Older Adults: Remembering When there’s Love There’s a Smoke Alarm,’” chair of the grant committee Ernest Grant said.

CVFD Fire and Safety Educator Kimberly Rideout said, “The program idea came about because the community is in need of working smoke alarms and home escape plans. About a year and half ago, Carrsville Volunteer Fire Department purchased smoke alarms and batteries with money donated to the department. They installed the smoke alarms and new batteries for smoke alarms already in residences in the community. During the canvas of one community, CVFD quickly ran out of smoke alarms to install. Due to limited funding, the smoke alarm installations stopped, but the need for smoke alarms in the community was still here. CVFD has always looked for way to fund the department needs without cost to the tax payers in the county. The idea to apply for a grant to receive money to pay for smoke alarms came next.”

The Grant includes $5,000 to support the project, a commemorative plaque for display at the fire department and in return, they are required to send a one-page report on the project.

The money is allowing CVFD to provide education programs and purchase smoke alarms for the community.

“Those who live in the CVFD response area and attend one of our fire and fall prevention programs will have the first opportunity to receive smoke alarms installed in their homes free of charge, as supplies and grant funds are available,” Rideout continued. “CVFD is also excited to be partnering with the American Red Cross to install additional alarms in to the community.”

As part of celebrating Older American’s Month in May, the department will provide free education programs to the older adults in the community. The program, “Carrsville Loves Older Adults: Remembering When There’s Love There’s A Smoke Alarm,” is a collaboration of community groups and fire service.

The objects for this program are the following: to increase awareness and demonstrate the importance of having a home escape plan and working smoke alarms; to increase the number of working smoke alarms in the CVFD area; to educate older adults/senior citizens on the 16 safety messages of the NFPA Remembering When program; and to provide NFPA fact sheets and home escape planning information to older adults living in the CVFD first response area.

The three programs that have been scheduled in the area are as follows:

• Monday, May 2: This program will be hosted by the Carrsville Ruritan Club. It will be at the Carrsville Community Center, 5336 Carrsville Highway, Carrsville, at 7:30 p.m. This event is open to the community.

• Thursday, May 5: This program will be hosted by the Isle of Wight Parks and Rereation. It will be at the Otelia J. Rainey Community Center, 33475 Carver Road, Franklin, at 11 a.m. Building restrictions allow for a maximum of 40 people to attend, so registration is required. To register contact Regina Edwards at 618-1688.

• Friday, May 6: This program will be hosted by SGT Jayton D. Patterson VFW Post 4411. It will be at 3385 Beaverdam Road, Franklin, at 11 a.m. This event is open to the community.

For further information, contact 537-3378 or rideoutkl@hotmail.com.