Richard Epley gave up harvesting soybeans.

Monday, October 11, 1999

Richard Epley gave up harvesting soybeans.

Merlyn Gutz and Ron Skjeveland skipped whatever it was they had planned for the Saturday morning.

They and their counterparts on the Austin Township Board knew fire safety comes ahead of all other things.

"We’re going to do this again next Saturday," said Epley, chairman of the Austin Township Board, "and when we’re through we’re going house-to-house in the township."

Austin Township is the most heavily populated among the 20 in Mower County; larger even than Lansing Township, which includes the unincorporated village of Lansing.

Both Austin and Lansing townships have agreements with the city of Austin’s fire department for fire suppression services. That’s why Dan Wilson was happy to participate in Saturday’s fire safety promotion efforts at the Austin Township Hall.

Township board members and Austin Fire Department representatives were participating in the Mower County chapter of the American Red Cross Smoke Busters Project.

Each resident of Austin Township, who visited the township hall Saturday received a free First Alert Smoke Detector and/or lithium battery with a 10-year guarantee.

It is the goal of the Red Cross chapter to place a working smoke detector in every Mower County residence by 2000 and there are only 81 days to go.

Julie Zrucky and her 11-year-old daughter, Michelle, a fifth grader at Banfield Elementary School in Austin, were among the families who sought a free Smoke Detector from the Red Cross volunteers.

"We’ve never had a fire emergency in our home, but I want to make sure my kids are safe at home and do whatever I can do," said Zrucky.

She and her husband have three children, Ben, 18, and Nick, 15, plus Michelle, who has been exposed to the fire safety messages of the Austin Fire Department, during last week’s October Fire Prevention Week activities.

"The most important thing to remember is to have a working smoke detector in your home and a fire escape plan," said the fifth grader, who drew one for the Zrucky family’s own use last week.

The involvement of townships to assist the Red Cross chapter in placing smoke detectors in every Mower County residence came about after Fire Chief Wilson visited the Mower County Townships Association’s meeting three weeks ago at Elkton.

Wilson, acting as a Red Cross chapter volunteer, pleaded with the 20 township boards to help circulate the smoke detectors in their townships.

He credited the nine fire departments in Mower County with making detectors available in each community, but reaching the rural areas would require the townships’ officials’ help.

Austin Township was the first to participate and more are expected to follow after holding regular monthly meetings this week and next.

For many, the most obvious hurdle is the harvest which is in full swing. Township board members are usually also working farmers.

Clayton Township will attempt to serve its residences Saturday, Oct. 30, when it plans a smoke detector distribution effort with the assistance of the Adams Fire Department.

Fire Chief Wilson said assisting the township board members distribute smoke detectors was one of the "services we provide.

"They’re paying for fire suppression services and we’re happy to provide this service," he said.

Elaine Hansen, executive director of the Mower County chapter of the American Red Cross, was also present Saturday to help distribute the detectors and batteries.

But, so zealous is Wilson about fire prevention, that he is a walking, talking one-person campaign for smoke detectors.

"The facts are this," Wilson said, "93 percent of the homes in American have smoke detectors, but 30 percent of them don’t work."

"There are over 4,000 deaths each year due to fires," Wilson said. "It’s sad to think how many people’s lives could have been saved with a working smoke detector."

The Smoke Busters project of the American Red Cross continues next Oct. 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information about the project, call Hansen as the American Red Cross offices in Austin (437-4589) or the Austin Fire Department (433-8105).