Grant provides free smoke detectors

A grant from ArcelorMittal, will allow the Northland Chapter of the American Red Cross will distribute 100 free smoke detectors to area residents as a way to emphasize fire safety during what is often the busiest time of year for local Red Cross disaster responders.

“Around the holidays and afterward is the time when people are most susceptible to having home fires,” said Northland Chapter Executive Director Judy Hanne Gonzalez. “Our volunteers can respond to up to three fires a day during this time of year.”

“We hope this promotion will remind people to be careful with things like smoking, candles, cooking and space heaters, and that they will take steps to ensure an early warning of any blaze by having a working smoke detector.” Fire safety tips are available free at www.redcross.org/prepare.

Beginning Jan. 2, Kidde smoke detectors equipped with 10-year sealed lithium batteries will be given on a first-come, first-served basis at the Northland Chapter office at 2524 Maple Grove Road, Duluth, and at the United Way of Northeast Minnesota at 229 W. Lake St., Chisholm. Smoke detectors will be limited to one per family.

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