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MAY 7, 2025 candgnews.com
Oakland County papers
Farmington Hills firefighters recently gave a demonstration on how quickly a house fire can spread.
RED CROSS AND FARMINGTON HILLS FIRE DEPARTMENT JOIN FORCES TO PROMOTE HOME FIRE SAFETY
Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
BY GENA JOHNSON gjohnson@candgnews.com
FARMINGTON HILLS — Having working smoke alarms in the home was the key message when the Farmington Hills Fire Department and the American Red Cross teamed up to promote home fire safety at a live controlled-room fire demonstration April 23. The demonstration took place at the Farmington Hills Fire Department Station #4, located at 28711 Drake Road. A living room was built in a structure approximately 10 feet by 10 feet that included the type of furnishings that can be found in many living rooms — an upholstered sofa, two upholstered chairs, tables, lamps, and drapes. A trained firefighter in full gear ignited the drapes. See FIRE SAFETY on page 8A
POSTAL CARRIERS TO HAND OUT BAGS FOR ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE BY CHARITY MEIER cmeier@candgnews.com
Christina Davis-Brown, left, and Sara Dolder, right, members of the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 3126 in Royal Oak, and mail clerk Tasha Cleveland, center, from the Walled Lake post office, show the bags that will be distributed to customers in metro Detroit next week. Photo provided by Kevin “Ohio” Walker
WALLED LAKE — The National Association of Letter Carriers’ annual Stamp Out Hunger campaign is set to take place May 10, and local postal carriers will be trying something new this year. In an effort to rev up donations of nonperishable foods, carriers will not only be distributing postcards to homes across metro Detroit this week, but separate grocery bags will be distributed to homes next week, just a few days before the drive. “We’re doing something different this year,” said Jim Hunter, regional coordinator for the letter carriers. “We have four bag sponsors, so what we’re doing for delivery and notifying people is we have a food drive
postcard the week before the drive. That’s what we’re doing right now, and then next week we’re going to be delivering just a plastic bag.” In years past, the carriers have only had sponsorships for the postage on the postcards, which would have a grocery bag stapled to them. This year, due to four bag sponsors — Kroger, Advia Credit Union, Fardmon Group and Out Front Billboard Co. — they will be able to do them separately to bring more attention to the need for the campaign. Hunter said that they have not been able to do it this way before, as the cost to distribute 1 million bags, which carry additional postage in order to have the carriers distribute them, is around $60,000. See FOOD DRIVE on page 9A