Lowe's contributes to fire safety program

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Dec. 17, 2002
Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse lent a helping hand to the Meridian Fire Department on Monday by donating more than $2,200 worth of protective equipment for area residents.
The fire department's Fire Safety Program will supply the fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors to the elderly and handicapped in Lauderdale County.
Jimmy Hoffer, fire prevention specialist, said the program is a year-long process.
Ryan Cox, manager of Lowe's in Meridian, said the donation is part of his company's nationwide Heroes Program that allocates money for stores to distribute in their community.
Meridian firefighters will install the units for eligible recipients free of charge. Hoffer said firefighters will also replace batteries as needed.
Meridian Fire Chief Bunky Partridge thanked Lowe's for its contribution.
He said all homes should have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers. He said the lack of detectors and not keeping them maintained with fresh batteries is a major problem.
Partridge said firefighters in the program also will pick the best place to install the units in each of the homes they service.
FIRE SAFETY
Anyone interested in participating in the Meridian Fire Department's Fire Safety Program should call Jimmy Hoffer at 485-1822.