Smoke detector giveaway set July 21 in Rehoboth

The Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company will be on site distributing free smoke detectors to low- and moderate-income families from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, July 21, at the Community Resource Center, 37510 Oyster House Road in Rehoboth Beach.

The smoke detectors have a 10-year fixed lithium battery which will last the entire life of the equipment.

Warren Jones, executive manager for the Delaware Volunteer Firefighters Association and a member of the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company, said, "All households need a smoke detector installed. It can save your life!"

Fire companies throughout Delaware hand out free smoke detectors as part of the continuing fire safety initiative known as Wake Up Delaware. The program was conceived in 2001 by members of the fire service as the direct result of the tragic deaths of 16 Delawareans in two residential fires.

There were five deaths in Broadkill in October 2000, and 11 deaths in Indian River in January 2001. In both incidents, there were no working smoke detectors in place.

Firefighters will be on hand to provide fire safety information to the community. Refreshments will be provided. For more information, call the Community Resource Center at 302-227-1340.

The Community Resource Center was created in 2011 to serve as a centralized community resource to help meet basic human needs of residents facing crisis. With dignity and respect, the Community Resource Center helps individuals and families get to the next step of their journey toward self-sufficiency and stability. The CRC has helped thousands by preventing eviction and utility interruption, feeding the hungry, paying for medications for the elderly, helping individuals find sustainable employment, and ensuring that infants and children have access to basic needs to help them thrive.

For more information, go to www.rehobothcommunitycenter.org.