Press Release

Date:   April 15, 2004

Mark Brostoff 855-2501 mbrostof@indiana.edu

Tim Deckard 825-9500 vbfddeckard@juno.com

PHOTO ATTACHED (permission granted for release by all parties)

Monroe County Citizen Corps Council Partners with

Van Buren Township Fire Department

         The Monroe County Citizen Corps Council has partnered with the Van Buren Township Fire Department in support of “Operation First Alert”, a local public awareness campaign to promote fire prevention.  Van Buren Township Deputy Chief Tim Deckard is spearheading the program to ensure that township residents are protected with smoke detectors.   

         In keeping with national, state and local guidelines to increase civic awareness in safety and emergency preparedness, Mark Brostoff, Chair, Monroe County Citizen Corps Council, presented to Van Buren Fire Chief Robert Johnson, and Deputy Chief Tim Deckard 118 First Alert Smoke Detectors for distribution to area mobile homes, trailer parks, and other residences.   The goal of the program is to encourage area residents to check their smoke detectors as well as to encourage families to develop proper evacuation plans in case of a fire.

         The Monroe County Citizen Corps Council has allocated more than $5,800 towards the purchase of fire prevention material, smoke detectors, family disaster and emergency preparedness literature, and specialty training for county residents.   The Citizen Corps program is funded through a grant from the Federal and State Emergency Management Agencies to provide education and support to Monroe County.

         The Monroe County Citizen Corps Council partners with community resources in developing programs in response to disasters, such as the tornados and floods of recent years.  Brostoff added, “…the mission of the Citizen Corps is to harness the power of every individual through education, training and volunteer service.  The local council focuses on making our community safer, stronger and better prepared to the threats of terrorism, crime, public health issues and disasters of all kinds.”

         Brostoff continued, “…this partnership is an excellent example of volunteers working in our community to support each others efforts.”