Milwaukee fire chief commends volunteers who installed nearly 40 smoke detectors on city's south side

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- It's a good thing, and maybe even a refreshing change, when one arm of local government reaches out to praise another.

That's what happened Wednesday, March 3, all in the name of fire safety.

"Let's make something positive. Let's make something that will actually have an impact on prevention."

Acting Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski held a news conference to publicly thank a group of volunteers led by Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa. 

They recently worked with firefighters to get nearly 40 smoke detectors installed in homes in Milwaukee's Clarke Square neighborhood on the south side. The chief says that's not an easy job during a pandemic.

"People are not exceptionally welcoming to have folks who, for all intents and purposes, are strangers, walk into their house," Lipski said. "Having the alderwoman involved was like an amazing key to get in the door."

Alderwoman Zamarripa was also singled out for her role in finding a natural gas leak and evacuating the home that was endangered.