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NORTH CAROLINA - Kidde, Allstate Insurance Company, Firehouse, the Volunteer and Combination Officers Section of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) have launched the second “Step Up and Stand Out” campaign. The campaign is a national initiative to increase the awareness of the need for volunteer firefighters and to recognize those departments whose men and women have voluntarily put their lives at risk to keep communities safe.
“Step Up and Stand Out: Recognizing and Inspiring Local Fire Safety Volunteers” gives volunteer and combination fire departments an opportunity to submit a brief video nominating their department for the Step Up and Stand Out award. Submissions will be accepted until August 11, 2017.
Voting will take place August 28 through September 30 on Facebook, giving the public the opportunity to vote on the nominations. The winning department will be announced during Fire Prevention Week (October 8-14) and will be recognized at Firehouse Expo in Nashville (October 17-21).
The five departments receiving the most Facebook votes will receive a prize package consisting of Kidde smoke alarms, IAFC and VCOS Section membership, two free admissions to Firehouse Expo, NFPA Fire Prevention Week in a Box and more. The grand prize winner will also receive a $3,000 grant, full registration to the VCOS Symposium in the Sun among other items.
“As a company that helps protect households and is committed to being a force for good in the places we work and live, Allstate is proud to support this year’s Step Up and Stand Out campaign,” says Allstate’s Property Claims Director Bryan Corder. “Volunteer firefighters play an integral role in protecting local communities across the country, and it’s important we continue to support them and build awareness of the ongoing need for more volunteers.”
Most of America’s 30,000 fire departments (87 percent) are either fully or partially staffed by volunteers, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. However, a shortage of volunteers, combined with the aging of the current volunteers and increased call volumes, raises serious questions over who will be protecting communities in the near- and long-term future.
“These men and women act as the first line of defense in an emergency, provide medical services and protect more than half of all Americans, particularly in rural communities; however, their numbers have steadily declined,” says Kidde General Manager Chris Rovenstine. “Voting in the Step Up and Stand Out contest and sharing the videos provide an opportunity for the public to help raise awareness on the need for more volunteers and help acknowledge local heroes making a difference.”
How Can You Vote for the Pike County Fire Department?The Pike County Fire Department has entered a video in this contest. Public Information Officer (PIO) Anita Neath told Pike County Times that Chief Rick O'Barr received an email about this contest and asked her to look into it. PIO Neath and Lt. Danielle Kelly worked together to make a video that was under two minutes long and told about volunteer fire department.
A Facebook account is required in order to vote for this video. Only one vote is allowed per Facebook user. Voting is open through September 30, 2017. The fire department with the most votes can win a training grant, smoke alarms, and admission to conferences.
You can vote by going to https://www.facebook.com/StepUpandStandOut/app/403834839671843/ and scroll down to the one with the rear side view of a red Ford pickup. It will be identified as the Pike County Fire Department when you hover over the video slide.
Thanks for supporting Pike County's Volunteer Fire Department!