North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey will continue his campaign to get smoke alarms in North Carolina homes as he distributes the life-saving alarms to fire departments in Cumberland and Sampson counties on Thursday, March 18.
Commissioner Causey, who is the State Fire Marshal, will also make a stop at a Fayetteville Operation Medicine Drop site, where residents can properly dispose of unused prescriptions so that they won’t end up in the wrong hands. Commissioner Causey and Cumberland County Sheriff Ennis Wright will have a joint media availability to discuss the Operation Medicine Drop program during the 10 a.m. stop at the Cumberland County Fire Marshal’s Office.
During the afternoon, Commissioner Causey will distribute more than $81,000 in ceremonial grant checks to Sampson County rescue squads.
“Everyone should have working smoke alarms in their homes because smoke alarms save lives,” Commissioner Causey said in boosting a canvassing campaign by fire departments across the state. “Smoke alarms cut the chances of someone dying in a fire in half. It’s important that people have smoke alarms installed in their homes and that the alarms are working properly.”
Statewide, more than 3,500 smoke alarms will go to 66 local fire departments. Firefighters will then canvass neighborhoods and help residents make sure their alarms are properly installed and in working order. If needed, the local fire department will install a smoke alarm for residents in their community.
The rescue grants going to Sampson County rescue squads are part of a state grant program that distributed more than $1.6 million to 120 rescue squads.
Here is Commissioner Causey’s public schedule for Thursday:
9 a.m. – Westarea Volunteer Fire Department (Smoke alarm distribution) 8716 E. Reeves Bridge Road, Linden, N.C. 28356 10 a.m. – Cumberland County Fire Marshal’s Office (Operation Medicine Drop and media availability) 131 Dick St., Fayetteville, N.C. 28301 10:45 a.m. – Vander Volunteer Fire Department (Smoke alarm distribution) 3509 Clinton Road, Fayetteville, N.C. 28312 (Bethany Rural Fire Department will receive smoke alarms) 11:45 a.m. – Stoney Point Fire Department #19 (Lunch and smoke alarm distribution) 2190 Lake Upchurch Drive, Parkton, N.C. 28371 (Cotton and Hope Mills fire departments will receive smoke alarms) 2 p.m. – Sampson County Emergency Management Center (Rescue grants and smoke alarm distribution) 107 Underwood Road, Clinton, N.C. 28328