Donation leaves fire department glowing

Deciding what to do with leftover promotional merchandise was a snap for local businesswoman Cheryl Bean. She knew her surplus could bring peace of mind and possibly mean the difference between life and death for someone in her community.
So on a recent sunny afternoon, Bean piled dozens of brand new, still-in-the-box fire extinguishers and smoke alarms into the back of her SUV and drove out to the Springfield Township Fire Department in downtown Davisburg, making several trips in and out of the building to unload her donation.
Bean, an appointed agent with Farmer’s Insurance in Independence Township, initially purchased the products to hand out as promotional gifts during Fire Prevention Week in October.
Although she did furnish quite a few new policy-shoppers with the life-saving equipment, Bean was still holding an armload of merchandise once the promotion had expired.
‘I had a choice of returning (the smoke detectors and the fire extinguishers) or storing them,? she said. ‘But I decided to give them to the fire department instead. They’re in touch with the community, and they know who needs this equipment.?
According to Charlie Oaks, Springfield Township Fire Department chief, many of the area’s trailer homes are without smoke detectors. Most of the time, he said, residents unplug the alarms or don’t replace batteries because the small homes are often poorly ventilated. Alarms can be triggered by the smoke from cooking.
Still, he said, smoke alarms, as well as carbon monoxide detectors, are an absolute necessity.
‘Smoke detectors and CO detectors definitely save people’s lives,? he said, adding that any home with a gas furnace, water heater, fireplace, range, or other heat-related appliance should be equipped with a CO detector.
Oaks, who said the department doesn’t receive donations very often, was ‘very pleased? that Bean decided to bestow her surplus upon the residents of Springfield. He expects to give away all the merchandise over the next year.
According to the National Fire Protection Agency, 96 percent of households participating in a 2004 survey were equipped with at least one smoke alarm. Roughly half of all house-fire deaths occur in the small percentage of homes without smoke alarms.
‘When we go out on medical calls, I’m usually rolling my eyes around the house looking for smoke alarms,? said Oaks. ‘If they don’t have one, we can get one out there, even put it up.?
The fire extinguishers were a boon, too, but Oaks cautions residents to call the fire department first, then, if there’s time, use the extinguisher.
‘A fire doubles every 19 seconds,? he said. ‘Nothing in your home is worth your life. Get out and stay out.?
Although Bean, who is a Springfield Township resident herself, said the donations set her back about $1,000, the cause was worthy.
‘The money was already allocated,? she said. ‘I’d rather see them get some use and have some benefit to the community.?