Red Cross volunteers and Orlando firefighters hosted the "Sound the Alarm" event in Parramore. Members of the local community joined them. 

Initiative to Keep Community Safe

In a report with Click Orlando, the group went door to door in around 300 homes. They canvassed broken smoke detectors and replaced them for free. The initiative had the goal of making the community safer. 

Pastor Robert Spooney told the news outlet that the entire initiative resulted from their calls to the Orlando Fire Department. Spooney has been a pastor in the community for over ten years. 

Need for Working Smoke Alarms

Spooney is the chairman of the Parramore Community Engagement Council. He said that they urged the fire department to be more proactive in ensuring that the community was made a safer place. 

Spooney noted that one of the problems encountered by most residents happened in the winter months. He added that many of them did not have a smoke detector in their homes. 

The pastor emphasized the importance of smoke alarms in keeping the community safe. With the detectors, the fires would be put out earlier. 

Helping the Community

Greater Orlando Red Cross Executive Director Janice Moran commended the volunteers for their service. Moran added that the response of the team was nothing short of amazing. 

She was glad that people took the time to help out their community and save lives. Moran noted that many of the older homes did not have smoke detectors or needed replacing. 

According to the report, these smoke detectors could be the first line of defense for fires. These smoke alarms needed to work and the alarm should sound when one presses the test button. 

Preventing Tragedy

Orlando Fire District Chief Walter Lewis joined the group of volunteers. He led the team going door-to-door and installing new smoke detectors.

Lewis stressed that they could prevent a tragedy by getting involved. One way to do so was by installing working smoke detectors. 

Moran called fire loss one of the most heartbreaking things to a family. The news outlet said that the Red Cross provides fire victims with food, clothing, and a temporary place to stay. She added that the smoke alarms were needed to save lives. 

Loss Before Holidays

In an earlier report with WESH, a family of four lost their home to a fire in Parramore. 

Rasheeda Anderson said that she had put her children to bed and was about to settle for the night. She managed to sleep for a couple of hours before tragedy struck. 

Anderson told the news outlet that she was awakened by someone banging on the door. 

The person told Anderson that their house was on fire. Anderson and her companion said they were all able to escape the fire. 

The mother of the two children said that she was thankful that they were all alive and safe. They were not able to save any of their belongings in the fire. 

Officials investigated the cause of the fire. The property was completely damaged. Anderson said that it was difficult because the loss happened during the holidays and that they were left with nothing.

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