The Owensboro Fire Department was recently presented with a Life Safety Achievement Award for its fire prevention accomplishments in 2013 by the National Association of State Fire Marshals Fire Research and Education Foundation in partnership with Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company and Residential Fire Safety Institute. The award was announced by Butch Browning of the NASFM Foundation.
“The heroic efforts of our local fire service aren’t limited to rushing into burning buildings to save families. They also present educational information to local schools and other community groups to make sure people know how to respond to fires and how to prevent them in the first place,” said Alan Clark, assistant vice president of Special Investigations for Grinnell Mutual. “The Life Safety achievement Award recognizes fire departments for their fire prevention programs that have been proven to save lives year after year.”
The Owensboro Fire Department was one (1) of 143 Fire Departments in the United States to be presented with this recognition. OFD was honored with the award with particular attention to the following factors for 2013: The lack of fire deaths in the community during the 12 month period, the grassroots Fire Company Fire Inspection Program, the partnership with the Red Cross for the Targeted Smoke Detector Program, the neighborhood fire safety program with attendance at numerous neighborhood events, and the Risk Watch and Learn not to Burn Programs in the schools.
“Our emergency services make the headlines, but our Fire Prevention and Fire Safety Education Programs save a lot of lives and property,” said Owensboro Fire Chief Steve Mitchell. “It is nice to be recognized for those efforts of our fire personnel.” Chief Mitchell added that the partnerships that OFD has with the Neighborhood Alliances, Red Cross, the media and other organizations are a crucial part of those programs and are just as much a part of this award as well.