By Elianna Miranda, Communications Volunteer

Chaunte Manaiza knows all too well the devastation a home fire can cause. Her grandmother survived one after a curling iron was left on a bed 15 years ago. Thankfully no one was hurt but the memory serves as a reminder of the importance of working smoke alarms.

Last Saturday when Manaiza spotted a gathering of people and fire trucks in her neighborhood in Columbus, Georgia, she went to find out why they were there.

One of those people was Adrian Ortiz with the Columbus Department of Fire and EMS. The Red Cross of Georgia partnered with the fire department for a Sound the Alarm event to install free smoke alarms for local families vulnerable to home fires. Within five minutes, Red Cross volunteers and firefighters, including Ortiz, were inside Manaiza’s home and installed three of them, one in each bedroom.

“I’m so glad I saw y’all and happy that you were available to install them. We had only one smoke alarm but adding more makes it safer now…because you just never know,” said Manaiza.

Ortiz grew up educated on the dangers of fires. His father, Heddy Ortiz, is a 17-year veteran of the Columbus Fire Department. Ortiz followed in his father’s footsteps when he also decided he wanted to be a firefighter. At Saturday’s Sound the Alarm event,  Ortiz helped install smoke alarms in several homes with community partners and volunteers.

“This is my first time out here with the Red Cross doing this and I really enjoy being a part of something that lets me help as much as I can,” said Ortiz.

Home fires are this country’s deadliest and most frequent type of disaster. Seven people in the U.S. lose their lives to a fire in their home every day. A group of nearly 50 volunteers served more than 150 residents, installing 124 alarms and making 46 homes safer in Columbus.

Johna Seay and his son Maison were heading to the basketball game between Richards Middle School and Rothschild Leadership Academy on Saturday afternoon. While getting ready to leave, Seay was approached by Red Cross volunteers and quickly welcomed the installation of free smoke alarms in their home. He remembers being impacted by a home fire almost 12 years ago when the townhomes where he lived became engulfed in flames.

While he escaped safely, he was temporarily displaced due to the damage. Seay remembers the Red Cross being there to help during his time of need.

“These days, it’s not just about me anymore…I have to think about him (Maison) too,” said Seay.

The Georgia Red Cross, volunteers and the Columbus Fire Department installed three smoke alarms in their home, making it safer for him and his son.

As part of a national initiative, the American Red Cross of Georgia installed over 1,500 free smoke alarms along with community partners this fall during Sound the Alarm events across the state. Volunteers, staff and community partners educated residents on how to stay safe from fires serving over 1,900 people and making 640 homes safer.

Going door-to-door, they educated residents on what to do if there is a fire, installed smoke alarms as needed, ensured all warning systems were working, and helped residents develop an effective plan in case of an emergency.

Home fires account for most of the more than 60,000 disasters the Red Cross responds to annually. Last year, the American Red Cross of Georgia responded to at least 2,800 single and multi-family home fires across the state. Additionally, more than 5,300 families were assisted because of those disasters.

If you need a free smoke alarm, visit our website to request an appointment at redcross.org/georgia

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.