Georgetown City Fire Department

Georgetown, South Carolina

Smoke Detector Grant from FM Global

 

December 22, 2009 – Georgetown City Fire Officials were awarded a $ 1500.00 grant today for their residential smoke detector program.  According to the City’s Fire Marshal, David Holcombe, the grant will help provide many more smoke detectors to residents of the City.

 

“With this money we will be able to provide the new 10 year smoke detectors to Georgetown residents,” Holcombe said.

 

The smoke detectors the department will purchase with the grant will be powered by lithium battery technology which will last for 10 years without having to be changed, according to Holcombe.

 

“Now we don’t have to worry about whether we have a good battery in our smoke detector,” said Assistant Fire Chief Bill Johnson.  “The most important warning system for our homes has been dramatically improved,”

 

The grant, according to Holcombe, was awarded to the department by Factory Mutual Global, one of the world’s largest commercial property insurers.  FM Global has awarded millions of dollars in funding to fire departments during the last 30 years, sharing the philosophy that the majority of property losses are preventable.

 

“This grant is one of several our Fire Marshal has secured over the past several years to fund the department’s smoke detector program,” said Johnson.  “David coordinates the program to help ensure every home in Georgetown is protected by a smoke detector.  Smoke detectors have a proven track record of saving lives and are an essential part of a family’s home protection system.”

 

The Georgetown City Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Bureau has had many recent achievements, according to Johnson.  At November’s City Council meeting the Department’s Fire Prevention Program was recognized by the South Carolina State Association of Fire Chiefs as the best in South Carolina.  The department was presented with the Richard S. Campbell Award for Excellence in Public Fire Safety Education at the Chief’s State Conference in October.

 

If you live in the City of Georgetown and need a smoke detector, call the Fire Department at 545-4200.

Left to Right: FM Global Senior Engineer Coleman Cashion, City Fire Marshal David Holcombe and Assistant Fire Chief Bill Johnson