The Atlantic Fire Department will be conducting a targeted door to door smoke detector installation project on Monday, March 9th in Atlantic.

The department will conduct the installations beginning at 5:30 pm and continuing throughout the evening.

Fire Chief Mark McNees stated “this is an expansion of the program we have been working on where we targeted residences with school age children. We now are going to target high risk areas.” The department will be focusing on the Sycamore Village mobile home park, and low income high density apartments.

Fire Prevention Officer Dustin McLaren has been working with Rolling Hills Bank, and Brocker, Carns and Carns Insurance to expand the program. McLaren says “ these two local businesses approached us about helping our program. They have funded the purchase of over 300 detectors for our efforts and we thank them for their generous gift to the department and community.”

The department was one of the first in the state to partner with the State Fire Marshal’s office. The marshal’s program is still distributing detectors throughout the state to departments that wish to conduct installations.

Firefighters will install up to two detectors free of charge at each residence and will advise residents on proper placement of other detectors and the necessity of escape plans. McLaren added, “smoke detectors are proven to be the most effective way to prevent injuries and deaths from fire. The Atlantic Fire Department is committed to preventing fires, injury, and death in any manner possible.”

Chief McNees reminds residents that the department has a priority list for installation of detectors and if those residents are missed they can contact the department and firefighters will install detectors as long as the supply lasts. The priority list for installation includes homes with school age children, homes with elderly residents, and low income residences.

McLaren adds that if smoke detectors are present in a home, but are over ten years old, the department recommends replacing them with a dual sensor detector.