By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Alabaster Fire Chief Jim Golden has a simple goal: For all houses in the city to have working smoke detectors regardless of whether the homeowners can afford them or not.

“Every house, regardless of their socioeconomic status,” Golden said while outlining the Alabaster Fire Department’s goal on June 23. “We are focusing a lot on fire prevention, because the fire that never starts is the fire that doesn’t harm anyone.”

The city’s Fire Department recently got some help from a local insurance agency, as Farmers Insurance agent Bobby Molan purchased 100 smoke alarms to distribute to Alabaster’s three fire stations.

The Alabaster Fire Department’s fire marshals keep smoke detectors on-hand at the city’s fire stations, and will provide and install them free of charge for anyone who asks.

“Right now, we are trying to get the word out that this is something we do,” Golden said of the smoke alarm program. “As of January 1 of this year, there have been 60 fire fatalities in Alabama. We are trying to do our part to reduce that number.”

During a Jan. 23 presentation at Alabaster Fire Station No. 3, Molan said he was happy to purchase the 100 smoke detectors, which Golden said will last the department for at least several months.

“I’m willing to help out such a great cause. The Fire Department does so much,” Molan said. “Of the fire fatalities that have already occurred in Alabama this year, how many of those lives could have been saved if there was a working smoke detector in the house?”