CAZENOVIA — On Feb. 10, Rob Duerr, customer service manager at International Wire/Continental Cordage in Cazenovia presented a donation of 75 smoke detectors and $120 cash to the Cazenovia Fire Department.
International Wire Group, Inc., headquartered in Camden, New York, is the largest bare copper wire and copper wire products manufacturer in the United States with operations in Europe. The company manufactures and markets wire products that are utilized by a wide variety of customers primarily in the industrial and energy, electronics and data communications, aerospace and defense, medical products, automotive, and consumer and appliance industries.
Continental Cordage started in Cazenovia in 1978 and was purchased by International Wire. It is now a business unit of International Wire’s Bare Wire Division and North America’s leading manufacturer of braided wire products.
In July 2022, International Wire held a company-wide golf fundraiser and used the money to purchase smoke detectors to be given to every fire department where International Wire has a manufacturing facility.
“International Wire wanted to give back to the communities from which they operate,” said Gil Hodges, director of manufacturing and HR representative at the company’s Cazenovia facility. “Suggestions were made in a group meeting, and Rob Duerr, [a] 25-year member with the Sylvan Beach Fire Department, suggested fire prevention. The group unanimously agreed that all proceeds would go to providing smoke detectors to local fire departments to distribute to people in their communities that need them. . . The tournament raised $7,000 through donations as well as contributions from International Wire.”
According to Hodges, the company purchased a total of 700 smoke detectors and distributed them to 10 different departments.
The employees of International Wire/Continental Cordage also held a raffle and donated the proceeds to the Cazenovia Fire Department.
According to Cazenovia Fire Chief Shain Emerson, 96 percent of homes in the US currently have working smoke detectors, and International Wire/Continental Cordage’s donation will enable the Cazenovia Fire Department to help that number grow.
“The Cazenovia Fire Department is very appreciative of the donation from International Wire,” said Emerson. “. . . When we respond to calls and notice homes without smoke detectors or malfunctioning ones, we can offer [the residents] one to give [them] peace of mind that they will be protected. Residents are reminded of the ‘Close Before You Doze’ policy; closing your bedroom doors before going to bed can greatly slow the spread of fire into living spaces while giving you time to initiate your escape plan. Practicing exit drills with your family is a great way to be sure everyone has an escape plan and meeting place in the event of an emergency and is a great time to check the batteries and condition of your smoke detectors.”
For more information on ‘Close Before You Doze’ and Exit Drills in the Home, visit the Cazenovia Fire Department’s Facebook page.
