Red Cross Volunteers Install Smoke Alarm in Johnson County Home and Save Lives

By Briana Phillips, Red Cross volunteer 

MOUNTAIN CITY, Tenn., June 29, 2022 - While this year’s Sound the Alarm Campaign is complete, the impact of the campaign is still reaching communities in Tennessee every day. Lives like Nina and Eric Mann’s are continuing to be changed because of the free smoke alarm installation provided by the Red Cross. 

Nina and Eric Mann experienced firsthand the life-saving effects of the campaign this last March when they had a house fire. On the day of the fire, Nina recalled it being a very normal day for the retired couple. Following lunch, she decided to take a nap. Eric went to the living room, but he got up when he heard the smoke alarm beeping from the upstairs bedroom. He immediately woke Nina up and they rushed out of their home safely. 

“It all happened very quickly,” Nina said. “I did not even have time to change out of my PJs. We grabbed the dog and got out of there as quickly as we could.” Once they were out of the house, all they could do was watch their home be consumed by flames. 

Their house sustained severe damage before the fire department could put out the fire. A third of the home was destroyed. But despite the circumstances, Nina was thankful to be alive. “One of my friends recently died in a house fire with her two dogs, so I know how lucky we were to get out safely,” she said. 

Nina also realized the pivotal role the smoke alarms had. Her husband hardly goes upstairs due to physical limitations, so if it were not for the alarms, they might not have noticed the fire before it was too late. “I really think that the fire alarms from the Red Cross saved our lives,” Nina said. “They were installed a couple years ago by some volunteers, but they still did their job very well.” 

While the fire alarms saved Nina and Eric’s lives, there are still many homes that are not prepared for fire safety. If you would like to find out more about how you can have your home made safer, contact your local Red Cross chapter. You can find out more at RedCross.org/Tennessee or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.