Some of the sweetest rewards arrive as much as a year later, as one local fire department experienced first hand.

The Delphi Tri-Township Fire Department was presented a Life Safety Achievement Award at the end of last year, for 2006 achievement. The award was announced to the fire department by director of the Residential Fire Safety Institute (RFSI), Roy L. Marshall.

The Life Safety Achievement Award has recognized local fire prevention activities for 14 years. RFSI is a public interest group whose mission is to reduce residential fire deaths and injuries. RFSI advocates the use of residential fire sprinklers, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and teaching people fire-safe behavior.

The department qualified for the award in 2006 because it recorded zero fire deaths in structures during that year. According to a press release issued by RFSI, although residential fires in the U.S. account for only 20 percent of all fires, they result in 80 percent of all fire deaths. The RFSI is committed to reducing that number. A total of 675 fire departments received the award.

Richard Hawkins, director of fire safety in Carroll County for eight years until early in 2007 said the award is an emblem of the fire department's promise to the community.

"The department's goal is to protect and serve by doing everything in its power to ensure the safety of our community," concluded Hawkins. "This award is a symbol of our dedication. We, along with other Carroll County departments, will continue to teach the importance of smoke detectors and escape plans, as well as teach kids the importance of not playing with matches. And we will continue to fulfill the department's goal."