NORRISTOWN- The Norristown Fire Department will honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by serving the community of Norristown on Jan. 17 with its 4th Annual Smoke Detector Blitz.
In partnership with the American Red Cross starting at 9:30 A.M., all on-duty fire department staff will conduct a neighborhood Smoke Detector Blitz from the 800 to 1300 blocks of DeKalb Street. Approximately one hundred twenty-five homes will be given the chance to have a firefighter install a smoke detector on each level and a smoke and carbon detector on their bottom floor.
“On this day we answer Dr. King’s call to service by stepping up to participate in this year’s Day of Service” said Fire Chief Tom O’Donnell “It is a terrific way to honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
This will be the first day of service smoke detector blitz since 2019.
Following residential fires in Philadelphia and New York City at the start of 2022 that killed over 25 people (including 16 children), this blitz will help reinforce fire safety in Norristown homes. According to the municipal Buildings and Code Compliance department, close to 11,000 smoke detector violations (missing, no battery, expired, etc.) were recorded in residential properties from 2016 – 2021. The Norristown Fire Department runs fire safety awareness programs throughout the year to reinforce the safety message.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Jan.15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister and activist who was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolence. The Marin Luther King Jr. holiday is a federal and municipal holiday celebrated on the third Monday of every year.
For more information please contact the Public Information Office at 610-270-0249
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