The Oxford Fire Department has secured a grant to install advanced smoke detectors in rental properties across the city within a year.
The Chief of the fire department, John Detherage stated that the 4.400 photoelectric detectors, which will be installed, can detect smoke using light beams. This technology is more advanced at detecting slow, smoldering building fires. The advanced light beam-based smoke detectors will aid in preventing future accidents. In 2005, three students of the Miami University were killed when a couch caught fire due to some smoking materials and also destroyed a house.
Chief Detherage also added that slow, smoldering fires often occur when people are asleep. Thus, new detectors would be installed even in rentals where traditional flame-detectors already exist.
Awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Fire Prevention and Safety Grants program of US Department of Homeland Security, the grant worth approximately $63,360 was provided to the fire department to procure and install the detectors.
Volunteers, landlords and the fire department will install the detectors in the sleeping area of every rental residence across Oxford.
Source: http://www.oxfordpress.com/