Last year Jamestown officials partnered with the American Red Cross to distribute hundreds of free smoke detectors throughout the city.

The program’s success showed two things – that there is a need amongst many city residents for smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, and city officials needed to find a way to help provide detectors to those who can’t afford them.

Kudos, then, to Matt Coon, city deputy fire chief, and city officials for their successful application to the U.S. Consumer Protection Agency for grant money that will help the city create a Carbon Monoxide Prevention Program in the city. The program will include installation of more carbon monoxide detectors in city homes and public outreach about the importance of carbon monoxide detectors.

Three resolutions have been introduced for council approval. One is to purchase equipment for the public outreach section of the program, along with buying the detectors themselves and tools and equipment to help with the installation. They’ve already been unanimously approved by council committees and will likely be approved by the whole council on Monday.

Coon said the department has long desired to have this type of program and to be able to make it available to the community. The city fire department’s Fire Prevention Bureau employees were in charge of and instrumental to securing the grant, and who will be the ones installing the carbon monoxide detectors, he said. Low and moderate income residents in the city will be the ones targeted by this program, including the disabled, elderly and veterans, though Coon added that it will mostly be homeowners.

Coon and the rest of those in the city administration who worked on this program likely are saving lives by being proactive in seeking out money to start the Carbon Monoxide Prevention Program by stopping an emergency before it happens. Well done.