Sun staff
Union Township Fire Department received a donation from Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation last week that will help the department save lives.
Firehouse Subs officials presented the check to Union Township Trustees during their April 11 meeting.
The $15,000 was used to purchase safety equipment that included 204 carbon monoxide detectors and 416 smoke detectors.
Union Township Fire Chief Stanley Deimling said thousands of lives are lost each year because of fires.
“The simple task of putting a smoke detector in reduces the chance of dying by 50 percent,” Deimling said.
He said carbon monoxide poisoning is also a problem and is the leading cause of accidental death.
“As a result of this generous donation by Firehouse Subs there is no reason a resident is not protected,” Deimling said.
Deimling said the donated equipment has re-stocked their safety equipment so that they can give detectors away to residents who need them.
He said Union Township Fire Department, like many fire departments, has a tight budget, so maintaining the smoke and carbon monoxide detector program for the community can be difficult.
“Now there is a supply in each firehouse and we can get them out,” Deimling said.
He said they are excited to be able to have the equipment, and he thanked Firehouse Subs officials for the donation.
Kevin Fryman, area franchise owner for Firehouse Subs, said company’s public safety foundation was created to provide fist responders with life-saving equipment and other tools to help them do their jobs.
“We contact local departments and we see what they need,” Fryman said.
Fryman said they raise money at all of their stores by selling empty pickle buckets, collecting donations in canisters and by giving customers the opportunity to “round up” their bill to the nearest dollar.
According to the foundation, Firehouse has donated $5.7 million to fire departments in 36 states and Puerto Rico including more than $187,900 in Ohio since 2005.
“We are able to make a difference in the community and even save lives,” Fryman said.
He said the closest Firehouse Subs to Clermont County is in Anderson Township. He said he is looking at opening a location in the Eastgate or Milford area in the future.
For more information about the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, visit www.firehousesubs.com.
To receive a smoke detector or carbon monoxide detector from the Union Township Police Department call (513) 528-4446.