ANDERSON TWP FIRE & RESCUE NAME GOLD STAR CHILI FIRE HOUSE OF THE YEAR

CINCINNATI, Ohio - (October 22, 2004) - Anderson Township’s Fire and Rescue Station 100 was named the 2004 Gold Star Chili Fire House of the Year yesterday. They were among 14 nominated fire houses located throughout the tri-state.

The station was recognized for going above and beyond in its fire prevention efforts, including its smoke detector distribution and its "Vial of Life" program with the American Red Cross.

The Gold Star Chili Fire House of the Year honors a professional or volunteer fire house each year for its efforts in community fire prevention and education. Presented by Gold Star Chili and the Tri-State Fire Safety Association, this is the only award of its type.

"In the past year, we, as a shift, have walked door-to-door distributing smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors to every resident in our response district," Perry Gerome, the station manager at Station 100 wrote in the award application. "We have planned several smoke detector blitzes to target every home in the area."

The station distributed more than 100 smoke detectors and successfully reached 95 percent of its target projections.

The station also partnered with the American Red Cross on its "Vial of Life" program that distributes glass vials for storing personal medical information including contact numbers and medication. The station maintains a "Life Safety" box on its fire engine with smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and the glass vials, so they have them on hand when needed.

"Gold Star Chili is honored to present the Fire House of the Year award and is extremely proud to recognize the important work of all of this year’s nominees," said John Sullivan, chief executive officer of Gold Star Chili.

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Established in 1965, Gold Star Chili has more than 100 restaurants located throughout Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana and has supported fire safety prevention and education as corporate-wide philanthropy since 1995. For more information about Gold Star Chili and its fire safety initiatives visit www.goldstarchili.com.