The Cherokee County Emergency Management Agency has teamed up with the Cherokee County Association of Volunteer Fire Departments, Alabama Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Alabama Fire College to bring FREE smoke detectors to all Cherokee County residents.  EMA Director Shawn Rogers was able to acquire enough of these smoke detectors from the Alabama Fire College to equip every home across the entire county.

All you have to do to obtain your FREE smoke detector is call the EMA Office at (256) 927-3367 or (256) 927-3911 and give your name, address and current telephone number.  EMA personnel will verify what fire district you live in, and will forward that information to the Fire Chief for your particular area.  Following that your fire department will contact you and schedule your installation.  The EMA office is open Monday – Friday from 8:00am – 4:00pm.  Should you live inside the city limits of Centre you will need to contact the Centre Fire Department directly.  

Director Rogers says as part of that agreement with the Alabama Fire College and Alabama Fire Marshal’s Office, the fire department must perform installation of the smoke detector.  After the installation of the smoke detector, the homeowner will sign a form acknowledging that it has been installed and those forms will be sent back to the Fire Marshal’s Office.  Rogers says he spoke with the Fire Marshal’s Office last week and at that time there had already been over 17,000 detectors installed throughout Alabama. Rogers says he is really excited about this initiative because it saves lives.  Most fire deaths occur while people are asleep. If you have smoke detectors in your home to wake you up, the chances of survival are much better.

Director Rogers says these types of proactive programs allow his office to better prepare, prevent, and plan for emergencies such as house fires.

He would also like to express his sincere appreciation to all the fire departments across the county for participating in this initiative and taking the time to make sure those who are in need of a smoke detector have one properly installed.