Firefighters and volunteers install free smoke detectors in Seminole County
Local fire department installs free smoke alarms for resident
Seminole County fire crews and Red Cross workers gathered Saturday to install new smoke detectors for free in all the area's homes.
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. - Seminole County fire crews and Red Cross workers fanned out across Altamonte Springs' Fern Park community on Saturday morning.
They aimed to install new smoke detectors for free in all the area's homes.
Fire officials said they do these free installations in neighborhoods twice a year.
This time, organizers said they planned to visit about 300 homes. At each one, they hoped to install smoke detectors with ten-year batteries.
Why install smoke detectors?
What they're saying:
Red Cross officials said the smoke detectors can give you the critical seconds you need to make it out alive.
"Those moments, those seconds count," said Sammi Conneen, a Red Cross coordinator. "So, from the minute you hear that smoke alarm go off, you have a maximum of two minutes. So, having a plan makes it all go smoother. We're here to save lives, and that's what this is all about.
"The homes in this area were built long ago, so either they didn't have smoke detectors when they were originally built or those smoke detectors have reached their life expectancy," said Lt. Jon Divita, from the Seminole County Fire Department.
Fern Park resident Matthew McCue said he was grateful.
"It's awesome!" he said. "It's a good thing to do and look out for and very helpful."

The backstory:
This installation came as residents in Palm Bay struggled to come to terms with a deadly fire at a condo complex on Friday morning.
The blaze killed two children, as well as their mother, who died after being transported to the hospital in critical condition.
Firefighters said they didn’t know yet whether the home had working smoke detectors.
What you can do:
Fire officials said they do these free installations in neighborhoods twice a year.
They said residents in need also can contact the fire department to schedule a free installation.
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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Seminole County Fire Department and Red Cross.