Deputy Chief Dennis Gallagher

Administration and Fire Prevention

Oversees Fire and Life Safety Education, Community Risk Reduction, Prevention, and the Child Passenger Safety Seat Program.

Fire and Life Safety Education and Prevention

Fire and Life Safety and Prevention are the core elements of protecting our community. UDFD has specialized training for all aspects and stages throughout a person’s life. We believe that Fire and Life Safety and Prevention is a yearlong process focusing on the community through education and outreach.

In addition to conducting fire and life safety education in schools, we also participated in various community events where we provided safety tip sheets in several languages to the community. We answered questions and provided sign-up sheets for residents to request the installation of smoke alarms in their homes.

Fire Prevention Community Events

Our Fire Prevention team had the pleasure of providing outreach and sharing fire and life safety education materials.

• Fireworks Display at Upper Darby High School

• Block Parties

• National Night Out

• Health and Wellness Fair

• Serviced special needs residents at apartment complexes covering:

• Fire Prevention

• Emergency evacuation

• Use of a fire extinguisher

• Stop, Drop, and Roll

Fire Prevention Poster Contest

Our department reached out to students in the community this year to help spread an important message about fire safety. For the 100th anniversary of the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA), Fire Prevention Week, we held a poster contest for students in grades Kindergarten through eighth grade. The theme this year was, “FIRE won't WAIT. PLAN YOUR ESCAPE!” The winners have their artwork displayed outside of each Upper Darby Township Fire Station, and Upper Darby Township Fire Headquarters, until Fire Prevention Week 2023.

Thank You to everyone who submitted their awesome artwork to us. All the submissions were fantastic, and our judges had a difficult time narrowing them down. Below is the list of winners.

Child Passenger Safety Seat Program

Upper Darby Township Fire Department now has certified safety technicians trained to install and inspect child safety seats in the vehicles of our community. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), car seats and booster seats protect children and infants in the event of an automobile crash.

The leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13 is car crashes, so choosing and using the most appropriate car seat for children and infants is important. Parents and caregivers should choose a car seat that is age appropriate and learn to install it correctly to keep their child or infant passenger safe.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with one of our certified technicians, please email us at CPSTechs@udfd.org.