IVFD encourages smoke detectors in homes

By Alan Carman
The Imperial Republican
    The Imperial Volunteer Fire Department would like to remind community members in their fire district that the department offers free smoke detectors and batteries to any home that wants them installed.
    Residents wanting to obtain detectors for their home can contact any IVFD member to get the detectors and the department will even install the detectors for residents if they are in need of help.
    If you have detectors in your  home and just need batteries for them, the department will replace the batteries for you at no charge.
    Rick Elliott, of the Imperial Fire Department, wanted to bring this service to every ones attention, after suffering a tragic loss this past weekend.
    Rick and Jan Elliott’s daughter-in-law, lost her aunt, uncle and cousin to a house fire last Saturday morning, March 15, in Lawton Kansas.
    The family members were trapped in a room on an upper floor when they made the 911 call that their house was on fire. Tragically due to the strong winds that persisted, the fire was unable to be put out and all three family members lost their lives. Lawton is a small town of only 938 residents, so this tragedy has hit the town very hard.
    Due to the damage of the fire, it is unlikely that the cause will ever be determined.
    The Elliott’s just want to get the message out to everyone, that smoke detectors are available free of charge to anyone in the fire district, and the department would be happy to install the detectors if needed.
    If you don’t know a fireman, a call to the dispatch can put you in touch with one.