Travis County Emergency Services District 2 (TC ESD#2) was recently awarded a grant for nearly $14,000 in life-saving equipment from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation.
The grant allowed TC ESD#2 to purchase 400 combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, as the District strives to provide each of its residents the opportunity to have at least one working alarm on every level of their home. Surrounded by firefighters and Risk Reduction personnel during a recent grant awards ceremony at the restaurant in Round Rock Crossing, Assistant Chief Kevin Croegaert thanked Firehouse Subs staff and customers for their generous help in addressing public safety needs. He noted that working smoke alarms dramatically increase your chances of surviving a fire at home.
This is Fire Prevention Month and the theme is “Every Second Counts!” TC ESD#2 is working to spread this life-saving message by introducing a new Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm Hotline, at (512) 989-4516. Residents who call this non-emergency number can leave a message asking questions about alarms; messages are usually returned the next business day. District residents who indicate they can’t afford a smoke alarm on their own may be provided one; alarms have been sponsored by TC ESD#2, Firehouse Subs, and the American Red Cross. Additionally, District residents who can’t safely test or install their smoke alarms due to physical barriers (such as mobility or vision issues) may qualify for assistance. The District also introduced a new webpage this month with answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
The District recently began offering the alarms to residents in need, starting with targeted outreach on Sept. 23 to specific neighborhoods. In the coming months, the District will continue to gradually distribute the remaining alarms throughout the community upon request and through more targeted outreach to specific neighborhoods.