Volunteer fire departments credit county smoke-alarm program with hundreds of installs

Greg Rydham, chief of the North Coffee Fire Department, told the HWR committee on July 28 that the county-supported smoke-alarm program has delivered hundreds of devices and freed local funds for equipment purchases. “For 5 years, we've put in 597 smoke alarms in a 133 homes,” Rydham said, and added that the department began adding carbon-monoxide detectors this year. He said last fiscal year his team installed smoke alarms in 19 homes.

Melissa Carter, Hillsborough fire chief, said records are incomplete for a full five-year span but that recent data show 52 detectors installed in 2024, 17 in the prior year as presented, and 21 already this year. “So far, yes, sir. No complaints. It's been very, very helpful,” Carter said. Michael, assistant chief of Summitville Fire, said Summitville installed about 17 alarms this year and used program funds to replace a cascade system and buy other equipment.

Committee members praised the program's accounting procedures; one member noted purchases are tracked through POs and receipts processed by county staff, which the member said shows the program money is accounted for. The chair asked each department to bring smoke-detector paperwork to the next meeting so the committee can maintain records and continue oversight.

The program discussion included brief operational questions — departments said they keep limited firefighting foam on hand only for major incidents and are replacing older equipment with funds made available by the program. The meeting did not change program policy; departments were encouraged to keep applying for state and other grants to supplement local support.