The Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services’ Residential F.A.C.T. Home Safety Survey and Smoke Alarm Program, was recently recognized as the Life and Fire Safety Program of the Year by the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner’s Office.  The F.A.C.T. acronym stands for Firefighters And Communities Together and has been a year-long initiative to enhance the department’s community risk reduction efforts.  “This is a prestigious award, and we are proud to have our efforts recognized by the State,” said Gwinnett Fire Captain Tommy Rutledge. 

            The recognition was bestowed during the 22^nd Annual Fire Prevention Week Luncheon hosted by the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner’s Office and the State Fire Marshal.  The luncheon took place on Thursday, October 30, 2014 at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth.  On-hand to receive the award was Lieutenant Sylvia Goalen, Educator Patty Schaefer, Educator Stella Kim, Educator Tony Lee, Educator Shawn Shores, Volunteer Judy Adanich and Volunteer Dave Adanich.

            The Residential F.A.C.T. Program benefits members of the community by providing safe home environments.  Members of the department, along with partnering groups, and citizen volunteers, go door-to-door in high-risk communities to conduct home safety surveys and install long-life “worry-free” smoke alarms.  Since the program’s inception, over 3,500 smoke alarms have been installed in 871 homes throughout the County.  Nearly 94% of the homes visited were found to be without adequate working smoke alarms or no smoke alarm at all.  In 2014, the department was awarded a $78,000 federal assistance to firefighters (AFG) grant, which helped fund the alarms.

            The success of the program has already been realized with the documented save of two separate families who experienced a fire in their home.  The presence of working smoke alarms alerted the occupants and gave them added time to escape unharmed.  “Without the alarms installed during the home survey, we could possibly be telling a different and more tragic story,” Rutledge said.

            The department’s educational outreach efforts included over 2,000 programs conducted in 2013, reaching almost to 180,000 citizens.  Fire and life safety educational programs are offered to schools, businesses, civic groups and neighborhood groups.    

            For additional information on home fire safety or to schedule a fire and life safety presentation, please contact the Gwinnett Fire-Community Risk Reduction-Education Section at 678.518.4845 or e-mail fireprograms@gwinnettcounty.com.