Smoke detector campaign said successful

Van Wert independent/submitted information

This past year was the inaugural fund drive by the Van Wert County fire chiefs to purchase smoke detectors for students living in the county. The fund drive was called “No Child Sleeps Unprotected”, and the idea gained traction with a $2,000 grant from the Van Wert County Foundation, which also agreed to handle the funds for the account.

The campaign ended with an amazing $25,000 grant from Eaton Corporation, while in between were donations from churches, industry, businesses, unions and individuals.

Nearly $50,000 was collected in the first eight months of the year, which led to the purchase of over 3,900 smoke detectors, which were distributed to students in grades kindergarten through ninth grade. The distribution included students from Crestview, Delphos Jefferson, Delphos St. Johns, LifeLinks Community, Lincolnview, Parkway, Spencerville, Van Wert and Wayne Trace schools.

The county fire departments and local schools handled the distribution of the smoke detectors, and the fire chiefs noted that their focus was to try to have an installed and working smoke detector in every student’s home.

“We were able to purchase smoke detectors with a 10-year battery and distribute them out to the students; however, parents or guardians need to install them,” said Van Wert Fire Chief Jim Steele. “This is very important, as properly placed, operational smoke detectors will increase survivability of a home’s occupants by 50 percent.”

Many of the school districts have students from multiple fire jurisdictions, and in Van Wert City Schools both Ohio City and Van Wert fire departments sent personnel on site to assist in distribution.

“We had some phenomenal cooperation from the community,” Chief Steele noted. “Van Wert Fire Equipment presented us with the ability to purchase the smoke detectors at their costs.  Walmart and Hat Creek Arena did multiple fill the boot days for us.”

Firefighters from Convoy and Wren were especially active in the communities soliciting funds.

The goal in this coming year is smaller, although just as important: to purchase smoke detectors for the incoming kindergarteners and any new students to the district in grades K-9. The fire chiefs estimate the cost of doing so to be approximately $5,000. Donations are tax-deductible and need to be directed to the County Smoke Detector Fund at the Van Wert County Foundation, 138 E. Main St., Van Wert, OH 45891.