(MENAFNEditorial) FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., March 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --For the fourth consecutive year, Dryer Vent Wizard , North America's leading dryer vent maintenance and repair franchise, has awarded 10 grants of $500 each to local fire prevention programs in the U.S. and Canada through its annual Fire Department Grant Contest.

During the Grant Contest, Dryer Vent Wizard franchisees are invited to nominate fire departments in their communities that conduct outstanding fire prevention education programs. The nomination includes a description of each fire departments' program and community outreach. Winners of the grants are selected by the Dryer Vent Wizard home office team. This year's grant recipients included:

Lancaster Fire Department (Lancaster, MA)

Nanaimo Professional Firefighters Local #905 (Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada)

Manorville Fire Department (Manorville, NY)

New Lenox Fire Protection District (New Lenox, IL)

Reno Fire Department (Reno, NV)

Nashville Fire Department (Nashville, TN)

Wesley Chapel Fire Department (Waxhaw, NC)

Medina Fire Department (Medina, OH)

Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (Tigard, OR)

Excelsior Fire District (Excelsior, MN)

Local fire departments awarded the grants reported they would use the funds to purchase Nomex Firefighting Hoods to help reduce the cancer risk to firefighters, to invest in additional training material for fire safety education programs at local schools and place 100 new smoke alarms in low-income family housing.

This Fire Department Grant Contest is only one example of Dryer Vent Wizard's mission to help raise public awareness about the dangers of dryer fires and how to prevent them. The company is also a partner of the Children's Burn Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing medical and psychological care for child burn survivors.

"We are dedicated to consumer education surrounding fire safety and are proud to support local fire departments and districts that lead such deserving programs," said Terry Reuer, CEO of Dryer Vent Wizard. "Our brand is made up of incredible franchisees who regularly work with and expand the local educational mission of these programs within their local communities and we applaud their combined efforts in the safety of their neighborhoods."

According to the National Fire Protection Association , of which Dryer Vent Wizard is a member, there are an average of 15,970 dryer fires in the U.S. annually. "Failure to clean" was cited as the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in residential buildings. Additional reports confirm dryer vents as a home safety issue that lacks consumer awareness.

Dryer Vent Wizard is the only international franchise company specializing in dryer vent repair, replacement, alteration, cleaning and maintenance for residential and commercial clients. Franchisees service more than 9,000 communities throughout North America and helps educate the public on the importance of regular dryer vent cleaning to prevent dryer fires and maximize energy efficiency.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, visit www.DryerVentWizard.com or call (866) 498-SAFE (7233) in the U.S. and (866) 395-SAFE (7233) in Canada.

About Dryer Vent Wizard
Headquartered in Farmington Hills, Mich., Dryer Vent Wizard is a North American franchise that specializes in dryer vent repair, replacement, alteration, cleaning and maintenance for both residential and commercial clients. The company was founded in 2004 by Dave Lavalle, who also founded Mr. Handyman, and currently operates 92 locations across the U.S. and Canada, serving over 9,000 communities. Dryer Vent Wizard is a member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). For more information about Dryer Vent Wizard and to learn more about franchise opportunities, visit www.dvwfranchise.com .

Media Contact: Bre Whalen, Fishman Public Relations, or (847) 945-1300

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SOURCE Dryer Vent Wizard

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