Ross County 1st Grader Saves Family With Fire Safety Tip Suggestion

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(Ross County) – The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal announced that its ‘Sound Off’ program has successfully helped save the lives and property of a family by providing them with smoke alarms and teaching them essential fire safety tips.

Paint Valley Elementary School (Ross County) first-grader Ronan Blaisdell took part in the State Fire Marshal’s “Sound Off with the Home Fire Safety Patrol” program and encouraged his family to get smoke alarms installed in partnership with the Bainbridge Fire Department. When a fire broke out the family didn’t know until the alarms went off. They notified the fire department and exited the house safely.

The family credits their son and the State Fire Marshal’s Prevention Bureau’s ‘Sound Off’ program for saving their lives and their house. Fire Prevention Assistant Bureau Chief Paul Martin and Safety Educator Shawn Whitt presented the first grader a certificate recognizing his fire safety efforts using the principles of the ‘Sound Off’ program. 

B-Roll and video interviews with first-grader Ronan Blaisdell, mother Julia Blaisdell, Fire Prevention Assistant Bureau Chief Paul Martin and Safety Educator Shawn Whitt available here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/mbgvnux8c2qwuj4/SFM%20Ronan%20Blaisdell%20Merit%20Award%20Ceremony.mp4?dl=0

“This is an amazing outcome from our outreach program,” said State Fire Marshal Kevin S. Reardon. “It is incredibly encouraging to see a young child take the lessons they learn and apply them to real-life situations; fire prevention always pays off.” 

“Sound Off with the Home Fire Safety Patrol” is a nationally recognized school program that teaches students valuable fire safety messaging over three days. 

The program is part of the State Fire Marshal’s ongoing efforts to reduce the number of fire-related deaths and injuries in Ohio.

For more information on the State Fire Marshal’s Fire Prevention Bureau and its ‘Sound Off’ program, visit Com.Ohio.Gov/Fire.