The St. Amant Fire Department and the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office joined forces on June 9 to host the Ascension Parish Mutual Aid Association meeting.

In the early 1970s, emergency response agencies in the parish joined forces to create the Ascension Parish Mutual Aid Association. The organization meets on the second Wednesday of every other month.

More than 35 volunteers from the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, Gonzales Fire Department, St. Amant Fire Department, Ascension Fire District 3 and the Galvez-Lake Fire Departments gathered at the St. Amant Fire Station for the meeting. Representatives from local industrial facilities and the LSU Fireman Training Center were on hand for the meeting.

Louisiana State Fire Marshal Butch Browning talked to the group about the services provided by his office. He stressed the importance of residential fire safety and prevention. He said all families should have working smoke alarms and a family escape plan. He said a home fire escape plan is especially important because recent reports have shown that smoke alarms may not wake up many sleeping children.

The group also discussed the recent creation of the Ascension Parish Urban Rescue Team and the New Ascension Parish Mass Causality Bus.

Article courtesy of the 2theadvocate.com