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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2000

Contact: Bill Teets at (614) 644-7187
or Thomas Ratcliff at (614) 752-8925

 PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

AREA RESIDENTS TO RECEIVE AWARD FOR USING SMOKE DETECTOR

TO SAVE THEMSELVES FROM HOUSE FIRE

 

 

Shellie Cottrell, her children Brandi, Timmy, Chad and family friend Steve Weiss will receive the Smoke Detector on Guard Award (Smoke D.O.G.) from the Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of State Fire Marshal and the Portsmouth Fire Department on Saturday, October 7th at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony will be held in conjunction with other Fire Prevention Week activities at the Wal-Mart store located at 4050 Rhodes Avenue, New Boston.

 

"The Smoke D.O.G. Award recognizes heroes such as Shellie, Brandi, Timmy, Chad and Steve who save their lives and the lives of others by responding to the warning sound of a smoke detector," said State Fire Marshal Robert R. Rielage. "Like a guard dog, a smoke detector 'stands watch' over the home both day and night."

Shellie, her children and Weiss will receive the award for their alert actions after fire broke out in the Cottrell’s home on July 18, 2000. The occupants were asleep when a fire started in one of the bedrooms. Shellie was awakened by the sound of a smoke detector, quickly arose and got everyone in the house to safety. All five escaped the fire with no injuries.

"Checking your smoke detector monthly and changing the battery once a year will help prevent faulty detectors and could help your family avert a fatal fire," said Marshal Rielage. "By taking these precautions, Shellie saved her own life and the lives of four others."

Each individual will receive a Smoke D.O.G. award certificate and t-shirt from Sherry Kovach, a fire safety educator from the Division of State Fire Marshal’s Fire Prevention Bureau and Portsmouth Fire Captain Bill Raison.

 

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