NEWBURGH – Newburgh Fire Chief Michael Vatter issued his annual advisory on Friday – when you turn your clocks back this weekend, also change the batteries in your home smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Last March, three people died in an apartment in Newburgh from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Having a functioning CO and smoke detector can mean the difference between life and death, Vatter said, noting that unfortunately there are still too many apartment renters in the city who either do not have those devices installed, or they have dead or no batteries.
“Poverty is our biggest problem; poverty is what creates why we don’t have smoke detectors or they are taken down or whatever,” the chief said. “We want to get you the help you need. Please, please, when you go to change the clock, put a new battery in it.”
Beth Hefferner of Orange County Healthy Neighborhoods said the county program will help people who need those devices. Listening are
(l-r) Newburgh Mayor Judy Kennedy, Fire Chief Michael Vatter and Councilwoman Karen Mejia.
Mayor Judy Kennedy said there is “nothing more important” than to check those devices to make sure they are working.
Councilwoman Karen
Mejia had a bilingual message for residents.
“This is extremely simple,” Mejia said. “You don’t need big government coming in; this is your own responsibility. To all our residents of the City of Newburgh, please change the batteries on these life-saving devices at the same time as you are changing your clock.”
Orange County Healthy Neighborhoods Director Beth Heffner said her program can help residents of the cities of Newburgh, Middletown and Port Jervis if they need batteries or the devices themselves.
