DCA Receives 15,000 Smoke Detectors from

WABC-TV, Channel 7

Division of Fire Safety Partners with Television Station in 13th Annual

Operation 7: Save a Life Campaign


 

TRENTON, NJ – The Department of Community Affairs' (DCA) Division of Fire Safety will receive approximately 15,000 smoke detectors from WABC-TV, Channel 7 in New York City as part of the television station's 13th Annual Operation 7: Save a Life campaign. The Division will help distribute the free smoke alarms to eligible residents in the station's viewing area, which includes North Jersey and much of Central Jersey.

"We want all New Jersey residents to be properly equipped with devices that can help save lives," said DCA Commissioner Lori Grifa. "ABC Channel 7's campaign and the distribution of these smoke detectors will assist lower-income households in particular, and will go a long way towards protecting individuals and families from the dangers of fire."

After receiving the smoke detectors, the Division of Fire Safety will send a notice to fire departments via email, and those departments that choose to participate can come and pick up the detectors. Local firefighters will then hand out the detectors to residents, specifically focusing on senior citizens, lower-income residents, and those households with children.

"This outreach campaign is one of the most effective fire safety education and prevention programs in which the Division of Fire Safety is involved," said State Fire Marshal and Division of Fire Safety Director Lawrence Petrillo.

Operation 7: Save a Life seeks to increase public awareness about fire safety and prevention and focuses on how to prepare for and handle emergency situations. The campaign has helped distribute hundreds of thousands of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to individuals who otherwise couldn't afford them. WPVI-TV, Channel 6, the ABC-affiliated station in Philadelphia, does a similar campaign for communities south of Burlington County.

 

Since its inception in 1999, Operation 7: Save a Life has distributed more than 615,000 smoke detectors. The smoke detectors are donated by Kidde.

The Division of Fire Safety is the central fire service agency in the State of New Jersey, responsible for the development and enforcement of the State Uniform Fire Code, public education programs and firefighter training programs.

For further information on the Division of Fire Safety, please log on to http://www.nj.gov/dca/dfs/, or call (609)633-6106.

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