Shop ‘n Save’s free raffle for fire safety
By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
HOULTON — As Fire Prevention Week hits midpoint, Houlton’s Shop ‘n Save joins the effort to heighten community awareness about fire dangers with in-store demonstrations and giveaways. With the high cost of heating oil hitting customers hard in their pocketbooks, many have turned to alternative sources of heat, often for the first time. 
Houlton Pioneer Times photograph/Elna Seabrooks
FIRE SAFETY RAFFLE — Shop ‘n Save Store Manager Jody Moulton and Office Manager Joy Ivey are promoting fire safety awareness and a free raffle drawing Thursday for carbon monoxide detectors. They also want to remind everyone to change the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Store Manager Jody Moulton says he was very receptive to his office manager’s suggestion of doing something for the community. “We’re going to have the Houlton Fire Department come up and they’re going to go over some safety tips and we’re going to have David Henderson from Maine Fire Prevention Services … go over the proper use of fire extinguishers, how to use them and what they’re for.”
Free raffle drawings for safety devices
In addition to the demonstrations, Moulton says there will be free raffle drawings Thursday, Oct. 9 from noon until 2 p.m. “We’re going to raffle off carbon monoxide detectors to as many people as we can. We’re going to raffle a couple that day and hopefully a couple of fire extinguishers that day.”
Clear reason to prevent tragedy
Office Manager Joy Ivey said the reason to get involved was obvious when she approached Moulton about her idea to promote fire safety. “A lot of new people are getting wood stoves and wood pellet stoves. We should make the public aware as much as we can.”
Moulton says this not a one-time event. “We’re going to try to raise money throughout the month for fire prevention and whatever we raise for money, we will be purchasing more carbon monoxide detectors and raffling those off, too.” In-store signs are helping promote fund-raising and fire safety.
“If there’s a problem in the home with carbon monoxide, they’ll be aware of it if they’re not using it properly,” said Ivey.
