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Fire Safety Hits Home For Free

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By VALERIE KALFRIN

vkalfrin@tampatrib.com

Published: February 12, 2009

TAMPA - Seline Kouame had set out a bowl of flour and a deep-frying basket in the kitchen when she and her husband, Gilbert, heard a knock at the door.

Tampa Fire Rescue driver-engineer Charles Chapman stood there, offering to check the smoke detector in their house for free. He wound up replacing it.

"If you need a battery, just come down to the fire station," Chapman said before leaving their house on East 23rd Avenue.

Every few months, fire rescue sweeps through a neighborhood to distribute free smoke detectors and batteries. The items are available anytime at city fire stations, but the firefighters said they like meeting residents.

"A lot of people are surprised to see us," firefighter Seth Dominique said.

About five Shriners from the Egypt Shrine in Tampa joined the fire crews going door-to-door in East Tampa on Tuesday morning. Shriners Hospitals for Children provide free health care for youngsters with serious conditions at 22 hospitals nationwide.

"It's better to do this than treat the burn victims," Shriners spokesman Bob Stalker said.

Firefighters visited 75 houses, installing 21 smoke detectors and 25 batteries.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800.

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