The U.S. Government donated 1,247 smoke alarms to socially deprived families in a move to prevent fires in the social sector, IPN reports.

Head of the Civil Protection and Emergencies Service Mihai Harabagiu told a news conference that the U.S donation is of great aid to the people. The goal pursued by this partnership is to offer assistance to Moldova in preventing and combating fires and in improving the quality of the civil protection services.

Kara McDonald, Charge d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Moldova, said it is very important that the vulnerable families feel safe at home and be able to take the necessary measures when necessary.

Mayor of Calarasi town Nicolae Melnic said that 500 socially disadvantaged families will benefit from this service. “Employees of the Civic Protection Service will install the smoke detectors in the homes of the mentioned families. When the fire alarm starts working, the dwellers will inform the firefighters,” he stated.

A smoke detector cost 170 lei. According to the Civil Protection and Emergencies Service, the 1,019 fires that happened in Moldova so far this year caused 70 deaths.