By The Star Staff
The Puerto Rico Firefighters Bureau will be installing systems to detect gas and smoke emanations in care centers for the elderly throughout the island, starting with the municipalities of Carolina and Canóvanas.
At-large Sen. Keren Riquelme Cabrera and District 38 (Carolina and Canóvanas) Rep. Wanda del Valle Correa announced the initiative, which they are promoting, after meeting Monday with the bureau’s commissioner, Marcos Concepción Tirado.
“For us, the safety of the elderly is very important, particularly those who are in care centers, whether day or long-term,” Riquelme said. “That is why it is necessary that these facilities have the most advanced emergency prevention systems such as gas and smoke detectors. After holding a very effective meeting with the commissioner of the fire department, we are pleased to report that soon all these centers will have new gas and smoke detection systems.”
“According to the firefighters commissioner, this will be a very hot year due to how acute the El Niño phenomenon is over the Atlantic Ocean,” the senator added. “Given this, we have to expect more activity in terms of fires; that is why these detectors in the care centers for the elderly are so important. I thank the commissioner, as well as Representative Del Valle, for this great step toward the security of those who built the Puerto Rico we have today.”
According to information provided by the Firefighters Bureau, smoke detectors decrease the risk of dying in a fire within an enclosed area. It is recommended that smoke detectors be installed in each room, in hallways, in the living room and on each level of the house if it is two floors or more.