This week is Fire Prevention Week. Local Firefighters are busy not only putting out fires but visiting our schools and malls bringing education and awareness to our communities. Some are paid firefighters and some are volunteers, but either way they never hesitate to respond to emergencies, fires, and rescues; putting their own lives on the line to save ours.
According to the Pennsylvania Office of State Fire Commission in 2012, there were a total of 147,478 incidents reported. Total Fire Dollar loss was $ 56,786,714.00. There were 30 fire related deaths, of which 2 were firefighters in Pennsylvania alone. To date in 2013, there have been 81 firefighter deaths across the entire United States.
Firefighters also spend their time not just fighting fires, but fighting for other causes too. This year the Oil City Firefighters Local 700 is embarking on a National Fire Department program called Coat for Kids or aka Operation Warm. In an email they sent out in August they described their project.
“We are trying to raise enough money through private and business donations so that we can make sure every child in the Oil City School District grades K-5 that live at or below the poverty level has a warm winter coat this year.
We have been working with the Oil City School District on this project. They have reported to us that 522 of our K – 5th grade students are actually reported as living at or below the national poverty level. That is over 33% of our children in these grades.
So far to date, we have collected over $1300 from some local residents and also have received several donations on our webpage. Our goal is to raise $17,000.”
Last Friday, October 4th, they collected over $7,000 in donations on the streets of Oil City to add to their total. Anyone who would like to help out with a donation, can do so at their Headquarters on Central Ave or by using the following link https://donate.operationwarm.org/page/contribute/oil-city
You can also visit their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/International-Association-of-Firefighters-Local-700/503430883038146?fref=ts to get more information or appreciation for the work they and other firefighters are doing in your Community.
Comment below or visit our facebook page at www.facebook.com/barrsinsurance to let us know some fire prevention tips you have to keep your family or business safe.
