The Home Builders Association Charitable Foundation plans to donate 800 smoke alarms to nine southwest Missouri fire departments during a Fire Prevention Week event scheduled for 10 a.m. Oct. 6 at Ebenezer Fire Protection District Station No. 1 in Springfield.
The donation marks the foundation's 15th year supporting the effort and will bring its total distribution to nearly 9,800 smoke alarms, according to a community announcement.
Fire departments receiving alarms include Republic, Fair Grove, Willard, Ozark, Nixa, Logan-Rogersville, Ebenezer, Strafford and Battlefield.
Fire safety campaign reaches milestone
The smoke alarms are being distributed through the Home Builders for Fire Safety Campaign, a partnership involving the Home Builders Association Charitable Foundation, the Home Builders Association of
Greater Springfield and Meek's.
Organizers said in the announcement that the donation is intended to support local fire departments' public education and fire prevention efforts during Fire Prevention Week.
According to the announcement, the 800 smoke alarms could help protect more than 2,000 residents. Organizers also said in the announcement that the nearly 9,800 alarms distributed during the program's 15-year history have the potential to benefit nearly 25,000 people across southwest Missouri.
Private-sector partnership funds donation
The announcement states that the smoke alarm purchase was funded entirely through private-sector support and did not use tax dollars.
HBA members and Meek's partnered with the Home Builders Association Charitable Foundation to purchase the smoke alarms and batteries distributed through the program.
The foundation's charitable efforts focus on workforce development and outreach connected to the building trades.
The Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield serves construction professionals through advocacy, education and industry representation. More information is available at springfieldhba.com.
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This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield-area fire departments to get 800 donated smoke alarms
