Published: Monday, April 2, 2007
Fire chief sets sights on safety programs
Shaving moments off response times is the fire chief's goal.
By TIM YOVICH
NILES — Fire Chief Gary Brown is instituting a safety program he hopes will help older and home-bound residents, and he has his eyes on other projects to help save lives.
Brown, who was named to the post in September, has started collecting used cell phoned for the LifeLite Project.
Phone collections boxes have been set up at the safety building where the main fire station is headquartered, at the state Route 46 fire station and at city hall.
"I think it's a great idea," Brown said of the program, which was established in Trumbull County by Probate Judge Thomas A. Swift.
Under the LifeLite Program, people drop off their old cell phones rather than throwing them away. Brown explained that the old phones are refurbished and programmed to dial only 911, and are then given to older or handicapped residents.
In addition, those who receive the phones also will be given an emergency flasher or "signal light."
The signal light consists of a socket and light bulb which becomes part of the porch light. When switched on, the light flashes to help emergency responders locate the residence more quickly.
Letting neighbors know
Brown said the flashing light would also alert neighbors to a problem being experienced by older adults and the home-bound who are alone.
Brown said he would like to buy more cell phones that only dial 911 that could be bought by money donated to the department.
It would be similar to a program in which the department bought 250 smoke detectors over a two-year period and gave them to those who couldn't afford them.
In addition, many houses in the city, the chief explained, don't have addresses displayed on the outside. It's a problem he wants to solve.
When firefighters respond to a fire call where there is smoke and flames, it's not a problem finding the right structure. However, in a medical emergency, it's difficult for ambulances to locate the correct house if an address isn't visible.
Brown wants to work with city council to update a 1925 city law requiring address numbers on buildings.
It's not only a problem for structures bearing no numbers, but also for structures where the address numbers are too small, difficult to read, painted over or hidden behind bushes.
Some addresses are stenciled onto the curb, but these can't be seen during winter snows.
"I'm for having quicker response time," Brown said.
'Knox box' project
Another safety project Brown wants to undertake is requiring a "Knox box" outside newly constructed commercial buildings and those with sprinkler systems and fire alarms.
The boxes are put outside the building. When an alarm is sounded, the fire department can get inside by opening the Knox box, retrieving the key to the building and get inside.
Knox is the name of a company most known for the boxes, the chief said, and less than 5 percent of the building in the city are equipped with them.
Brown explained that sometimes firefighters are forced to break a door down to get inside a building where there's a fire.
With a key to the Knox box on each firetruck, Brown said, entry can be made quickly and without damaging the property.
Like the street address issue, this too would require approval by lawmakers.
More Stories from Thu, Apr 5, 2007
- Eagle Scout project for soldiers soars
- Inmate's escape puts private prison under microscope
- Preganant woman used knife to rob, police say
- Y'town busting out with events
- No water-for-income tax in Canfield deal
- Driver in hit-run appeals his sentence
- Homeowner sues diocese over damage from flooding
- Union Twp. seeks funds to demolish old barracks
