ADAMS, Mass. — Firefighters took to their trucks Tuesday evening not to put out a fire, but to hopefully prevent one by installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
The Fire Department teamed up with the Red Cross to install free smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in 12 homes this week funded through the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign.
Red Cross Disaster Program Manager Mary Nathan said the program is five-year initiative looking to decrease the number of deaths and injuries caused by home fires by 25 percent.
"We are in our third year and we have already had success throughout the country and in Western Massachusetts," she said. "Also, we know it’s a great program."
Fire Chief Paul Goyette said the program is a first for Adams and after communicating with the Red Cross, the department quickly put out fliers to inform residents.
He said early detection is critical in saving lives and property.
"Early detection is always critical not only for life safety but for keeping the fire small," Goyette said. "Fire doubles in size about every 30 seconds. This is huge not only in trying to save the residents but the building."
Goyette said he felt people underestimate the importance of detectors and often take out the batteries to power other utilities. He said this program will definitely make the community safer.
Stan and Elizabeth Kestyn of Orchard Street were first on the list. Firefighters checked their home for bad detectors and placed new ones in optimal locations.
Stan Kestyn said he thought the program was important and signed up right away.
"It's great, and I'd like to see other towns follow the same thing," he said.
His wife agreed.
"We saw it in a flier and thought it would be a good thing," she said. "We are older and this is a huge help."
Goyette said a fire department does more than just fight fires.
"There is more to a fire department than just fighting fires, and this is community service," he said. "This is prevention and when a pager goes off we answer the alarm but we would rather not even get to that point."
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Adams Free Library Pastel Painting Workshops
ADAMS, Mass. — Award-winning pastel artist Gregory Maichack will present three separate pastel painting workshops for adults and teens 16+, to be hosted by the Adams Free Library.
Wednesday, April 24 The Sunflower; Wednesday, May 8 Jimson Weed; and Thursday, May 23 Calla Turned Away from 10:00 a.m. to noon.
Registration is required for each event. Library events are free and open to the public.
These programs are funded by a Festivals and Projects grant of the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
This workshop is designed for participants of all skill levels, from beginner to advanced. Attendees will create a personalized, original pastel painting based on Georgia O’Keefe’s beautiful pastel renditions of The Sunflower, Jimson Weed and Calla Turned Away. All materials will be supplied. Seating may fill quickly, so please call 413-743-8345 to register for these free classes.
Maichack is an award-winning portraitist and painter working primarily in pastels living in the Berkshires. He has taught as a member of the faculty of the Museum School in Springfield, as well as at Greenfield and Holyoke Community College, Westfield State, and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
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