Monroe Fire Spreads Christmas Cheer at Burn Center

City of Monroe – Dec. 14, 2012 - Being a burn victim isn’t something to be jolly about and having to deal with it during the holidays doesn’t make it any easier. The Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation (GFBF) held its annual Christmas visit to the Grady (Atlanta) and J.M. Still (Augusta) Burn centers last Thursday and Friday. Monroe Fire Department, with help from Santa, went along to bring joy to those in less than joyful spirits. The visit included Christmas Carols, presents for patients and gift cards for the family of victims by firefighters, Doctors, hospital staff, past burn survivors and of course Santa. The visits have a single purpose to bring a smile to those that have little to smile about.

The Monroe Fire Department has been working the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation for several years now. Mostly by participating in the annual “Give Burns the Boot” drive where money is collected for the foundation. These funds are used to help burn victims, medical cost, new equipment at the burn centers and fire prevention and education. In September the Fire Department was awarded a $3000 grant from the Burn Foundation to purchase a stove fire simulator to educate the community about the dangers of fire and burns in the kitchen.

When ask if he changed the lives of someone while visiting the Burn Center Firefighter R.J. Lott said, “No but someone changed my life”. Chief Stan Dial said, “We are going to continue to support the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation because they are supporting us. Together we are making a difference in the lives of the people of our community”. The Monroe Fire Department was awarded Fire Prevention Program of the Year by the State Fire Marshal Office in October for the work they have done in the last year.

(Contributed by Lt. Bill Owens, Public Information Officer with Monroe Fire Department)