(5/22) In light of recent residential fires of significance, another round of door-to-door Home Fire Safety Visits and Smoke Alarm Checks will take place on Saturday, June 11th, 2016, reaching area residents. Red Cross volunteers and local fire / rescue First Responders will be joined by other safety advocates ‘on-the-street’ promoting the importance of having working smoke alarms in place.

Please mark your calendar now for Saturday, June 11th, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. when Vigilant Hose Company (VHC) personnel will be out and about in the community offering information on simple/easy to accomplish home fire safety measures to include installing free smoke alarms where needed. Safety personnel, men and women, will be wearing easily-identified apparel clearly showing their affiliation. No monetary donations are being sought.

Emergency services vehicles will be seen in various neighborhoods during visitation period plus anyone interested can call the VHC fire station at 301-447-2728 to request a visit or follow-up visit at a suitable time. A door-hanger info card will be left at each home where no one is home or where residents might prefer a safety team to return at a more convenient time to discuss safe practices and/or install an alarm.

Open to all who reside in VHC’s emergency response district, this activity is being undertaken by a number of fire safety advocates from across the region working together to help assure fire safety in homes, apartments and similar residential occupancies. Fire Chief Chad Umbel and Fire President Frank Davis encourage anyone with questions either prior to or following the June 11th event to contact VHC’s Fire Prevention / Life Safety Coordinator, Elyssa Cool, by contacting the fire station at the number above or via email at FirePrevention@vhc.org.

Those involved in cooperation and coordination include the American Red Cross of Western Maryland, the Town of Emmitsburg, the Emmitsburg Council of Churches, the Fire Prevention Committee of the Frederick County Volunteer Fire/Rescue Association, the Frederick County Department of Fire & Rescue Services and County Fire Marshal’s Office, the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office, the U.S. Fire Administration/National Emergency Training Center, Mount Saint Mary’s University, the Seton Center, the Emmitsburg Business & Professional Association, area Service Clubs and the VHC.