AFD to check private residences for fire safety

Last year alone the Athens City Fire Department responded to 659 fire calls. Now, the department hopes to make some house calls, not to put out fires, but to prevent them from happening.

In July, the AFD started the Residential Courtesy Fire Inspection Program, which offers private homeowners a fire inspection of their residences for free.

Two firefighters or more are assigned to go into a home and follow a check sheet to look for possible problems throughout the entire home, said Captain Ken Gilbraith, the program's founder. The inspection normally lasts 45 minutes.

Although some inspections have been done, Gilbraith said that the program has not had the amount of requests that he had hoped for.

"We haven't done as many as we would have liked to have done," he said.

APD Chief Robert Troxel said that the low numbers were expected because of the high number of rental properties in Athens. Rental properties and businesses are required to be inspected for fire code violations by the Athens City Code Enforcement officers.

"We wouldn't have the volume of requests of other cities that are more owner-occupied," Troxel said.

Mayor Ric Abel said that private properties do not have to be inspected because they do not have the turnover of residents of rental properties. Abel said he thinks that the fire inspection program is good for residents.

Gilbraith said that the program has been valuable for those who have used it.

"People don't think of fire they way they should," he said.

The fire department advertised the program with brochures and radio spots, as well as on their website. WOUB also filmed the firefighters completing an inspection in August.

But because of budget problems, officials cancelled the campaign, Gilbraith said.

In the future, AFD officials may do some advertising through the government channel, Troxel said.

Appointments can be set up through the AFD Monday through Friday, 8 a.m to 4 p.m.

–– Lindsey Nelson