Chief’s Tailboard Talk for October 2023

Hello Theodore and Dawes Communities,

We have made it to October, and with the coming of this month so does Fire Prevention awareness. Although I’m reluctant to say October is Fire Prevention month because every month should be, in fact we should strive daily to maintain an awareness regarding fire safety and
prevention. Nevertheless, October tends to be a very busy month for fire safety, prevention, and public education in fire departments across the country. Your Theodore Dawes Fire Department is also out and busy. Our Public Education and Community Risk Reduction leader, Sharon Reeves, is busy almost daily scheduling show-n-tells for our schools, setting up classes, teaching classes, scheduling smoke detector installs, and planning department fire prevention activities in general. All while being a busy mom and Volunteer Firefighter.

October typically signals changes in our weather and even though we still seem warm and, on some days, downright hot, changes are in the air. The days are getting shorter, the grass is not growing as fast, high school and college football are in full swing. We are on the downhill slide of hurricane season, thank goodness. October is the month where we should change out the batteries in those smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. A fresh battery will ensure around the clock operation of the one device in your home that could be the most responsible for saving your life in the event of a fire. A new battery will also eliminate that annoying little beep of the
low battery warning, which can be hard to locate when you use multiple detectors. So, please consider swapping those batteries and continue a once-a-month test of your detectors. If your home does not have a smoke detector our department can provide you with one and we can
schedule an appointment to install it for you. It’s as simple as a phone call to the department.

Last year at the culmination of Fire Prevention week, the department held a Family Fun Day at the Tillmans Corner Community Center and Griggs Elementary School. Unfortunately, we are unable to continue that event on the same scale but are still planning an event so keep
abreast of information posted on our social media pages.

As I close this edition of Tail Board Talk, I would like to thank all the members of the Theodore Dawes Fire District for your support of this Department and our efforts to provide you with a quality fire service. Fiscal ’23 is in the books and as we embark on Fiscal ’24, with your continued support through the annual fire fee, look for us to continue to be good stewards of those provided funds as we continue to improve the services we provide to you.

Thank you,

Chief Byrd