The Grand Rapids Residential Safety Program is being expanded thanks to a federal grant awarded to the Grand Rapids Fire Department.
“You know it’s colorless, it’s odor less and carbon monoxide can incapacitate you very quickly and you’re not even aware it’s happening.”
That’s Lt. William Smith with the Grand Rapids Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Bureau. He says protection against what’s known as the silent killer is important and that’s why they’re celebrating the recently awarded federal grant that expands their residential Safety Program. The program generally provides residents with free smoke detectors and home safety assessments. . But this year’s nearly 350-thousand dollar award will also make room for them to begin to “install” carbon monoxide detectors in homes.
“This is a big step forward when we’re able to include carbon monoxide detectors in our residential safety program homes. We’re really proud of the work we’ve done and making big steps forward to increase risk reduction in our community.”
The city’s news release says it will likely be December before the CO alarms are available and ready for installation.
But in the meantime, the Fire Department encourages homeowners to register for the Residential Safety Program. Smith says you just call the city’s 3-1-1 operators. Customer service representatives will then arrange for a fire department crew to do the assessment and install free smoke alarms throughout the home.
