JEFFERSON CITY – On April 4, hundreds of firefighters from across the state gathered at the Missouri State Capitol to honor their hard work, bravery and dedication to the safety of citizens across the state.
Firefighters were honored in a ceremony where the governor spoke of their commitment to a life of service and sacrifice.
Those who attended the ceremony were greeted by a display from the Jefferson City Fire Department which used two of its ladder trucks to display a large American flag at the east entrance of the State Capitol on East Capitol Avenue.
Across the state, there are more than 24,000 career and volunteer first responders working across more than 850 fire departments. Volunteers make up 80 percent of the firefighters across our country.
The Director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety, the governor and others spoke about the need for continued efforts to put smoke alarms in all residences. As of this week, there have been 34 fire fatalities in Missouri this year, and in all but one of the incidents, there were not working smoke detectors in the homes.
The state has teamed up with the American Red Cross to implement its “Sound the Alarm” campaign. From April 28 through May 13, teams of volunteers will install 100,000 free smoke alarms in more than 100 cities around the country. For more information, call 417-380-1148.
For more information about the Missouri State Capitol or the Missouri Senate, please visit the Missouri Senate’s website at www.senate.mo.gov.