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Charlotte, New Orleans fire departments place friendly wager on wild card game

The Charlotte Fire Department Chief agreed with New Orleans Fire Superintendent to place a friendly wager on a wild card matchup between the Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints. (WSOCTV.com)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte Fire Department Chief Pete Key agreed with New Orleans Fire Superintendent Timothy McConnell to place a friendly wager on this Sunday's wild card matchup between the Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints.

The losing team’s fire chief will have to install an officially licensed NFL smoke detector branded with the winning team’s logo in his office.

[SECTION: Carolina Panthers]

“No matter the result of the game, our united goal is to raise awareness of the importance of fire safety, specifically working smoke detectors in homes,” Key said. “This weekend’s wild card game is going to be a battle, but I just can’t see any team stopping our Panthers run to the big game.”

The Buff Project, a New York City-based fire safety organization and distributor of officially licensed NFL team identified smoke alarms, will donate 50 NFL licensed team-branded smoke detectors for each game throughout the playoffs to the fire departments.

The detectors will be used in their fire safety outreach efforts.

“Working smoke detectors are the front line in preventing fire-related fatalities,” McConnell said. “Regardless of the outcome of Sunday’s game, I am thrilled that, thanks to the Buff Project, our New Orleans Smoke Alarm Education Program will have New Orleans Saints-branded smoke detectors to install in New Orleans homes. Our Saints smoke detector will look great hanging in Chief Key’s office.”

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