From Patti Garrett’s blog…

You may come home one day soon and see a RED door hanger on your door – the City of Decatur Fire/Rescue Department has received a grant to provide smoke detectors, free of charge, to residents in the City of Decatur in the interests of enhancing community and life safety. Smoke Detectors will be installed by members of Decatur Fire/Rescue. Upon request, a free home fire-safety check will also be conducted at the time of installation. Trained personnel will point out hazards which are overlooked may cause a fire. Very often simple maintenance and housekeeping will make your home fire safe. If you are a resident in the City of Decatur and need a smoke detector installed, test, or checked in your home fill out the form here:

http://www.decaturga.com/index.aspx?page=455

Deanne sends in this announcement/invitation…

Decatur Heights Invites the Community to Safety and Home Security Event

Saturday, November 3, 10a.m – Noon
The Church at Decatur Heights
735 Sycamore Drive

There’s something for everyone, so bike, walk, roll, or drive on over and join us!

Decatur Police Department Mobile Unit

• “Social Media Safety” class for teens & parents to attend together. (10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. in community room.)
• Child Identification Fingerprints card for school aged children

Duncan Cottrell, The Entry Enforcer

• Check out smart options for safeguarding your home.
• Hear a 20 minute presentation, “Options for Securing Doors and Windows,” offered at 10a.m. and 11:30a.m.

Duncan Cottrell is a home security expert and Local Voice blogger on Decatur-Avondale Patch. He has gotten rave reviews from our neighbors!

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Just received this press release…

As announced in the March issue of Decatur Focus, the Decatur Fire/Rescue Department is offering a Citizen’s Fire Academy. This will give interested community members the opportunity to learn who the Fire Department is, what they do and how they do. Graduates will be in a position to assist the Fire Department as Decatur CAPS (Citizens Assisting Public Safety) volunteers, allowing them to actively and productively support the Department in things ranging from emergency operations to community outreach. Active volunteering at the completion of the class is encouraged, but not required.

During the six-week program, participants will become familiar with the personnel and mission of the Department and be trained in a wide variety of skills ranging from CPR and blood pressure screenings to chain saw safety and many other skills. They will also have a chance to ride on emergency calls. “We’re not always putting out the fire,” said CAPS Fire Coordinator Brent Orth. Decatur’s Fire Marshal, Capt. Stephanie Burton, said the department hopes to tap into the professional skills of citizens in all walks of life, no matter whether they are doctors, lawyers, carpenters, or practice some other vocation.

Fire Academy classes will take place at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday from May 3 through June 7. Interested folks can find more details and an application form here: http://www.decaturga.com/index.aspx?page=644

Take advantage of an opportunity to learn about and serve your community !

NFDecatur provides the picture above (and these 1, 2, 3) and DW provides this eyewitness account of what closed Trinity Avenue between McDonough and Church Street for the second time in the past four days.

Wednesday, 7:30AM I was sitting one car back from the Chick-Fil-A drive thru window when the Food Service tractor trailer entered the parking lot. Unfortunately they didn’t pull all the wires high enough from Sunday’s accident. The trailer pulled down a light pole and the offending wire. I was blowing the horn and waving but the driver did not get the message until it was too late.

Brent sends in this photo from around 2:15p this afternoon of police and fire activity around the intersection of Commerce and Clairemont this afternoon after a multi-car crash.

Careful out there folks!