The Clinton Fire Department will be holding a special event at the fire house Sunday to promote fire safety.

The Department for several years now has applied for a grant through Energizer to obtain and give away batteries for fire alarms. Clinton Fire Chief Shawn Milton explains the fire department annually applies for the grant, and sometimes do not receive it.

[audio:openhouse1.mp3]Chief Milton On Battery Grant[/audio]

The department has also applied for a grant through the State Fire Marshall's office to obtain smoke detectors. He says the goal of the grant for the smoke detector grant is to give them away. He says the Fire Marshall's office has a certain amount and they give them out until they all have been given away.

[audio:openhouse2.mp3]Chief Milton On Smoke Alarm Grant[/audio]

Chief Milton feels this is an opportunity for the community to see the firehouse and get a look at a small portion of what firefighters do. He also feels it is a good opportunity to promote fire safety within the home. He says having a smoke alarm in the home is a requirement by law.

[audio:openhouse3.mp3]Chief Milton on Importance of Smoke Alarms[/audio]

Chief Milton explains the batteries they have obtained from Energizer are AA batteries. He says if you are using a smoke detector that still uses 9 Volt batteries, it may be time to change out that smoke alarm, and stopping by the open house is a good opportunity to do that at no cost.

The open house is Sunday from 1-3 pm at the firehouse. While there, you can check out the new fire engine. Chief Milton says they've had opportunities to show it off but this is a good opportunity to see it up close in person.