Fire departments in Queens are putting smoke detectors into the hands of schoolchildren.

New Germany fire department started the initiative of handing out smoke detectors to students following a fire in Auburndale in February that claimed the lives of three children and a woman.

They challenged other departments to do the same and so far, Greenfield and North Queens have accepted.

North Queens Fire Department Chief Chris Wolfe says they’ve purchased a supply of smoke detectors locally.

“We’ll be giving out 300 first go, and then probably in a few months we’ll be doing another 300 possibly, but expanding out to grandparents and things like that, to put in their homes,” said Wolfe.

He says the smoke detector giveaway is in addition to efforts they routinely make to educate children.

“I find in Queens County and around that fire prevention is quite outstanding there,” said Wolfe. “Most of the departments take a lot of pride in teaching the kids and going to schools during fire prevention week and making sure that they are aware of fire safety.”

Wolfe says the smoke detectors will be handed out at North Queens Community school sometime in the next couple of weeks.

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