My guests, retiring Cleveland Fire Chief Paul
Stubbs and Larry Gray, spokesman for the CFD and I talked about the safety
measures one can take to reduce the number of deaths by fire.
We covered
having an escape plan for families, not leaving food cooking on the stove, not
overloading outlets and electrical cords and having working smoke alarms.
We encouraged Cleveland residents to call and get free smoke alarms with free
installation. We talked about the fact that on Chief Stubbs' watch death by
fire went from an average close to 50 a year down to its lowest level in
recorded Cleveland history.
In 2010 there were only five deaths from fire
and 2011 there were only three due to fire.
We also talked about the
alleged abuse of sick leave and overtime by some in the fire department.
We discussed the need to continue to educate children, their parents and the
elderly about fire safety.
Children oftentimes will encourage their
parents to do a better job of fire safety because kids are learning in school
things not to do.
The elderly often over-medicate and may not be aware of
some life-threatening behaviors due to their altered state.
Chief Paul Stubbs is Cleveland's first
African American Fire Chief.
