Selectman Dempsey Promotes Full Town Subsidy for Household Smoke Detectors-September 9, 1977

Highlighting the critical life-saving value of early fire warning devices following a devastating local blaze, Selectman Walter J. Dempsey is pushing forward with a municipal proposal to provide a full town subsidy for smoke detectors in every Norwood household.

Local Fire Incident Inspires Safety Push

The renewed focus on home fire safety follows a severe early-morning fire on June 25 that inflicted over $50,000 in damage to the Burnley Road home of Frank Clark. Mrs. Elizabeth Clark recalled escaping the dense, blinding smoke just in time after waking spontaneously, noting that while her husband was overcome by fumes, the family survived. The Clarks’ home lacked smoke alarms at the time—though they had used them previously on Fulton Street—and the family is currently living in a trailer in their backyard while rebuilding.

Remarking on the terrifying ordeal, Mrs. Clark noted that all their neighbors immediately purchased smoke detectors following the disaster. The Clarks now have two detectors guarding their temporary quarters and plan to install them permanently once reconstruction is complete.

Financial Subsidy and Insurance Benefits

Selectman Dempsey argued that for a smoke detector program to achieve total effectiveness and widespread adoption, the town must absorb the full cost, warning that even a minor out-of-pocket expense could cause some residents to ignore the opportunity. “If you really and sincerely believe in it, all you have to do is put a price on it,” Dempsey remarked.

While fire protection commissioner Norwood Clark questioned whether beneficiaries should share in the expense, he acknowledged that spending roughly $150,000 to equip town homes is a worthwhile investment when weighed against the town’s $1 million fire department budget. Dempsey noted that smoke detectors provide crucial surveillance during the vulnerable hours between midnight and 6:00 a.m. when natural human senses are asleep, and pointed out that most insurance companies offer a 2 percent premium credit for approved detectors. Dempsey suggested officially launching the proposal in October during National Fire Prevention Month.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger