CARIBOU, Maine — Winter fires have already claimed the lives and homes of several Maine residents this season. In response to the recent tragedies in northern Maine, the Caribou Fire Department applied for a grant through the non-profit Pine Tree Burn Foundation to help assist their smoke detector program, which makes life-saving devices free to the public for those who apply.
Representatives of the Pine Tree Burn Foundation gathered at the Caribou Fire Department Jan. 13 for a ceremonial donation of $500 to the local fire department. Caribou Fire Chief Scott Susi hopes to partner with local businesses to stretch the donation as far as he can.
“Smoke detectors do really need to be replaced. The battery-operated detectors have a life expectancy of 10 years. This will give our firefighters an opportunity to go out and put smoke detectors in homes while performing public fire education. Fire preparedness should go on all year long, but you should be the most vigilant in the winter.”
According to Maine State Fire Marshal Joseph Thomas, a 20-year veteran of the Pine Tree Burn Foundation, the organization works year-round performing educational training, including their juvenile fire setter intervention and smoke detector programs throughout the state.
“The foundation donates about $500 per distribution when we do a department program. Part of the mission is to not only do smoke detector installations but maintenance programs as well,” Thomas said.
Local Pine Tree Burn Foundation board member Jon Cote was on hand to help deliver the check and help promote fire prevention and education as the primary goal for the Pine Tree Burn Foundation.
“We work throughout Maine with fire departments and schools teaching fire and life safety programs. I love this part of my job, providing safety education, making the public aware, and making a change in people before something happens,” he said.
To acquire a new smoke detector, residents must fill out a form at the Caribou Fire Department and a fireman from the station will go out and install the smoke detector for them. Chief Susi has made it his goal throughout the year that all homes have working smoke detectors.
