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AUBURN, Mass. — The Auburn Fire Department recently launched its own Facebook page and Twitter feed to help update residents during emergencies.
Started in January, the Auburnmassfire Facebook page and the @auburnmassfire Twitter feed are being used to keep the public informed during situations like major snowstorms, hurricanes and major road closings, said Fire Chief Stephen Coleman Jr.
“We recognize that social media has become a major part of our lives today. This is another way that our department is trying to keep the public informed about situations that may affect their lives” Coleman said.
The department intends to post safety-related messages periodically to remind people of actions they can take to keep themselves safe during the different seasons of the year.
“For instance, we will post a reminder to change the batteries in your smoke detectors when it is time to change your clocks. Or to shovel out fire hydrants on your property when they are covered in snow,” Coleman said.
The launch is part of the department's effort to have a greater presence online to assist and inform the public.
In addition to the Facebook page and Twitter feed, Coleman said, the department’s website has had a major transformation over the past two years with the assistance of the department's webmaster and Adam LaFlash, a firefighter and paramedic.
The site has had many upgrades over the past year with the addition of a news section, frequently asked questions, storm safety tips, informational videos and a place where contractors can download permit forms from the fire prevention section of the site.
Comments (1)
The AFD website looks like it popped out of 1997.