GFD Annual Report 2021-2022

2021-22 Community Education 1,000 Community Programs 30,470 Participants

IN THE COMMUNITY Smoke Alarm Saturday

As part of our mission, the Greensboro Fire Department is committed to checking and installing smoke alarms throughout the city. In Fiscal Year 2021-2022, we installed 493 new alarms and 336 batteries. We installed 202 new alarms on Smoke Alarm Saturday, an annual statewide campaign supported by the North Carolina Department of Insurance and the State Fire Marshal’s Office held. Firefighters also inspected and considered safe 197 alarms on that June Saturday. According to the National Fire Protection Association, almost 60 percent of fire deaths are caused by properties with no smoke alarms or alarms that fail to operate. The risk of dying in a residential structure fire is 55 percent lower in homes with working smoke alarms.

Supporting Community Members with Autism

Holden Pardue of Scout Troop 600B helped local fire departments secure new tools for supporting people with Autism Spectrum Disorder – and inspired Greensboro staff to build upon his great idea. For his Eagle Scout project, Pardue raised $2,000 to create 50 kits first responders can give people with Autism to help them stay calm in crises. The kits contain sensory toys and other tools that have helped Pardue, who has Autism. The project inspired Senior Firefighter Hannah Johnson to raise funds for new kits on fire department vehicles, plus six kits for Greensboro Police Department community resource officers. She also worked on a well-received interagency project that provided police officers with additional medical emergency training, including a segment on autism.

Need a firm alarm installed or checked? CALL 336-373-ALRM (2576).

Introducing Girls to Firefighting The department expanded Camp Spark in Fiscal Year 2021-2022. The annual event introduces high school girls to firefighting careers while promoting confidence, teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. The five-day camp is staffed by active and retired women firefighters. Campers learn a variety of skills through hands-on training, including vehicle extrication, forced entry into buildings, hose deployment, search and rescue, sprinkler and hydrant training, and rappelling. Camp Spark increased to 16 participants in its second year. Six participants returned from the previous camp to assume leadership and motivational roles as mentors.