Heading into the week of the Passover Holiday, the New York City Fire Department today distributed Smoke Detectors to Williamsburg residents on the request of the United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn (UJO). The Fire Department was joined by Red Cross representatives offering to install the smoke detectors in the apartments.

In wake of the devastating tragedy two weeks ago Saturday that claimed the lives of seven members of the Sassoon family, the UJO reached out to the Fire Department to arrange a Smoke Detector drive in Williamsburg before the Passover holiday, when cooking picks up. It identified the two heavily trafficked locations – on Lee Avenue corner Rodney Street and Lee Avenue Corner Wallabout Street – for the distributions that took place today. Also, the UJO reached out to the Red Cross, to join the drive and provide free installations, to assure that every family that needs fire alarms, can have them installed properly and free of charge.

“I would like to thank the Fire Department for their dedicated work to prevent fires and tragedies. Their distribution today assisted families to usher in a safer Passover. I call upon every family to make sure that they have enough working smoke detectors. Before the holiday, they should review their kitchen, warming and cooking appliances for Passover and year-round, to assure that they are safe and used in accordance with all safety regulations,” said Rabbi David Niederman. “If you aren’t sure, err on the side of caution.”

“I also would like to thank the Red Cross for joining the drive and supplementing it with free installations. During the recent months we came to work closer with the Red Cross, and we greatly appreciate their attention to each community’s unique needs,” added Rabbi Niederman.

(YWN Desk – NYC)