Assemblyman Lentol Applauds The United Jewish Organizations Of Williamsburg, American Red Cross, Williamsburg Shomrim & Hatzolah of Williamsburg for Fire Prevention Work

Assemblyman Joseph R. Lentol (D-North Brooklyn) applauded the exemplary community work of  The United Jewish Organizations Of Williamsburg (UJO), American Red Cross, Williamsburg Shomrim, and Hatzolah of Williamsburg in working to prevent fires. On Sunday, February 28^th, these three organizations held a smoke detector drive, where they installed 250 smoke detectors in homes throughout Williamsburg. The UJO was instrumental in establishing the partnership between the various organizations.

Fire prevention is one of the most important safety concerns in New York City. Not only did the groups install smoke detectors but they also educated residents on how to prevent fires, and reduce fire deaths and injuries.

“With over eight million people in such a small place, fires are bound to happen. Fortunately, there are many things we can do to prevent fires. The smoke detectors that the UJO, American Red Cross, Williamsburg Shomrim, and Hatzolah of Williamsburg provided these families are essential to reducing fire related deaths and injuries. We also can’t forget about the devastating effect fire has on families even when people are not injured. Losing one’s belongings can be overwhelming,” Lentol said.

Over the past few months a number of fires in North Brooklyn have displaced families and caused deaths and injuries. To address the problem, Assemblyman Lentol will co-host a fire safety presentation on Thursday, March 10^th at 6:30pm at St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Academy at 12 Newell Street, Brooklyn, along with the FDNY, the Mayor’s Office and local elected officials. 

“With the rash of fires in the neighborhood, I thought it would be appropriate to educate my constituents on the importance of fire prevention measures. I am hopeful that this fire safety presentation will save lives. Luckily, we have the best first-responders in the nation. When one of the most recent fires occurred, Hatzolah of Williamsburg came all the way to Greenpoint to help. This speaks to the unwavering support that our first-responders provide to those in need,” Lentol concluded.


Assemblyman Lentol joining Rabbi David Niederman, and leaders and members of Red Cross, Hatzolah and Shomrim during the Fire Alarm Installation Drive 

Source: Press Release by office of Assemblyman Joe Lentol.

March 4, 2016 Column: Hundreds of Fire Alarms Installed in Williamsburg Drive by the Red Cross, UJO, Hatzolah and Shomrim

The March 4th column, also reported on the very-successful Smoke Alarm Drive, last Sunday, conducted by the Red Cross, the UJO, Williamsburg Hatzolah and Shomrim. Hundreds of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms were installed in Williamburg.

The free smoke alarms were enabled thanks to the #GetAlarmedNYC initiative by the NYC Council announced by Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Councilman Chaim Deutsch, after the terrible tragedy that took lives of the Sasoon family almost a year ago in Flatbush, jointly with Mayor de Blasio, the FDNY Foundation and the Red Cross of NY. Assemblyman Lentol was present at the kickoff of the drive, Sunday morning, expressing his strong support for the life-saving effort.

At a meeting arranged by Senator Daniel Squadron about two years ago, the UJO of Williamsbnurg formed a strong partnership with the Red Cross of NY, together with the Williamsburg Hatzolah and Shomrim, under which the volunteers are training with the Red Cross and are joining the Red Cross Volunteer network to respond to disasters. This partnership let to this very successful fire alarm drive, to make Williamsburg homes safer.

"I'm thankful to the Red Cross for undertaking this drive, working closely with us to protect hundreds of families. A special thanks for the devoted volunteers, and the volunteers of Shomrim headed by Coordinator Yanki Itzkowitz, for devoting so much time and efforts for this drive; and for the Hatzolah headed by Coordinator Yom Tov Malik, for opening their garage for the drive," said Rabbi Niederman, UJO President.

"A special thanks to Captain Garfield Richards of the Red Cross and Kelly McKinney, Red Cross Emergency Manager, for leading the drive, and all their co-volunteers," Rabbi Niederman added.

"I also want to thank Senator Squadron for forming the close collaboration of the UJO with the Red Cross, together with Hatzolah and Shomrim. It was very helpful during fires and it led to this successful drive. I also want to thank Assembklyman Lentol for participating at the event to give his support for it."

"I thank Speaker Viverito, Councilman Chaim Deutsch and the entire City Council for passing the initiative to provide free fire alarms to save lives, and Mayor de Balsio and the Fire Department for joining this initiative," Rabbi Niederman concluded.

Due to the demand of hundreds of families who pre-registered, a number of additional drives are planned to install alarms in those apartments who pre-registered but the teams didn't get to them yet.

 

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