Fire Department, Elks Lodge donate audio-visual smoke and CO alarms

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

The Charles City Fire Department and the Elks Lodge have teamed up on a project to increase the safety in a local home.

The department and the lodge purchased and donated four visual and auditory smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to Joseph Brennan, who has three children with genetic hearing impairments — Jenessa, 12, Klayton, 6, and Klaudia, 3.

Brennan explained that three of his seven children have cochlear implants to help them hear during the day, but the external part of the devices must be taken off to charge at night. That left him nervous because they wouldn’t be able to hear the usual auditory smoke or carbon monoxide alarms.

“They’re 100% deaf in the nighttime,” he said.

He approached the Fire Department about solutions, and the Fire Department approached the Elks Lodge to see what they could come up with, said Fire Chief Eric Whipple.

Splitting the cost 50/50, the department and the lodge spent $660 for four smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and the accompanying strobe lights.

“They have an extreme sensitivity to light, even with their eyes closed, so the strobe will definitely wake them up,” Brennan said about his children.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” he said. “I’ve had just a standard smoke detector and I’m really concerned at night with the possibility of a fire. It’s very relieving, just to know that they’re gonna be able to wake up at night.”

Steve Mills, acting exalted ruler of the lodge, said the group is very active in the community and likes to help out where it can.

Whipple said fire safety is a major campaign for the Elks, and Mills pointed to the fire awareness trailer that the lodge has available through the Fire Department to help teach kids about fire safety.

Whipple said the money from the Elks came from tips and donations to the fire safety fund, and funds from the department came from the volunteer fund.