Parish donates 4,000 smoke detectors to homes Idea comes after fire that killed 2 children
By Jacqueline Cochran
jcochran@dailyworld.com
Article published Dec 17, 2006
 

Nearly 4,000 St. Landry Parish homes will be safer this winter because of a donation of smoke detectors that the parish government will be giving out.

People interested in getting one should call the parish council office. If they need help installing it, that can be arranged, as well, said Parish President Don Menard.

"We have some criteria established. The elderly and those homes without central heat and using space heaters will be given first priority," he said.

The recent death of two Opelousas children in a house fire has heightened the awareness of the community concerning the need to be safer during these next months, Menard said.

"If we can save one life ..." he said.

Opelousas Fire Department investigator Jessie Bellard said the home where the two children, Za'Vontrey, 3, and Mone't Gallow, 4, died did have smoke detectors, but the batteries were not working.

Bellard said people who do have smoke detectors should use this opportunity as a reminder to check their detectors and make sure they are working.

Residents of Opelousas needing battery replacements can call the Opelousas Fire Department.

OFD Capt. John Saucier said the Opelousas smoke detector program is very successful. "We see this as an extension of that."

Menard said the detectors were both directly donated and purchased with donated money.

Pat Auzenne, the Home Deport of Opelousas human resource manager, said she first contacted store vendors with a request for a price reduction after Parish Information Office Melanie Lee called, and when they learned of the area's recent lost, gave 1,000 of the detectors to the effort.

"We always want to be involved," she said of her store. "We live in this community. We're part of it and when it's effected, we're effected."

St. Landry Parish Fire District III Assistant Chief Chris Vidrine said people may not realize it, but smoke detectors are really your best defense against fire.

The firefighters agreed, this circulation of smoke detectors, along with an heightening of the public's awareness is the best way to help stop loss of lives.

"When those things go off, you will hear it," Saucier said. "You may lose you possession, but not your life, and that's what this is about."