WASHINGTON - Pepco will donate 750 smoke alarms to the Montgomery County Fire Department Wednesday, Oct. 11, following a live-fire demonstration during National Fire Prevention Month to draw attention to the need for smoke alarms in all homes and apartments.

The donation by Pepco's Emergency Services Partnership Program is part of the company's continued commitment to emergency preparedness and cooperation with first responders, who will distribute the alarms to county residents unable to afford one.

"Smoke alarms save lives.  It's plain and simple," says Montgomery County Fire Chief Tom Carr, who will accept the alarms from Pepco. "Our partnership with Pepco is more than just smoke alarms," he added, citing close cooperation between his department and Pepco during storms and other outage events.

Carr's remarks were prepared for a news conference Wednesday, 11:00 a.m. at 7111 Thomas Branch Drive, Bethesda, following staging of a kitchen fire by his fire fighters during the NBC Today show.

"Pepco's Emergency Services Partnership Program demonstrates the positive value of public-private partnerships by providing resources to the communities and residences that need them the most," says Pepco Region President Tom Graham.  

Pepco provided smoke alarms to Prince George's County fire fighters earlier this year and will donate them to the District of Columbia Fire Department later this month.

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Pepco, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POM), delivers safe, reliable and affordable electric service to more than 745,000 customers in Maryland and the District of Columbia.