Billboards spread f ire safet y message

Schenectady takes new approach to public awareness campaign

The g ia nt brig ht red- and- blue bill boards offer a simple message that officials hope will capture people’s attention — and save lives.

The three signs, all under the heading“Fire Safety Tips ,” read: “Install Smoke Detectors. Test Monthly,” “Get your Furnace Checked” and “Have a Fire Escape Plan. Get Out& Stay Out .”

“We want to expand our 119- person department to 3,119 because we just trained the citizen ry in all these things they can do ,” said Assistant Fire Chief Don Ma reno.

He said the billboard campaign marked the first time the city has used this type of advertising to spread t he message and move people to action as par t of October ’s Fire Safety Month.

The bill boards are on display at Seneca Street and Erie Boulevard near Rivers Casino& Resort, on Broadway near the county social services building, and at the corner of Route 7 and Albany Street.

The city received a deeply discounted rate from La mar Advertising Company on the bill boards, which will remain up until t he end of t he month, Mareno sa id.

“They became our par tner in t his venture to get our message across about public sa fet y,” said Mareno.

He sa id t he depar tment pla ns to “re- establish relationships” as par t of t heir ongoing ef for ts to work more closely with t he school system as well as with socia l ser v ices and child protective ser v ices to dea l with youngsters who may have an unhea lt hy preoccupation with f ire.

The juvenile f ire- setter prog ra m aims to educate youngsters ra ng ing in age f rom 6 to 17 years old about t he dangers of f ires, and get t hem t he help t hey need to overcome t he problem.