Warner Robins community hosts Fire Safety and Prevention event

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — On Tuesday, Oct. 4, Rebuilding Together Warner Robins, its Board of Directors, Warner Robins Fire Department and Montford Point Marines Association all joined forces to hold a Fire Safety and Prevention event.

The partners provided fire safety equipments to more than 50 families in a Warner Robins neighborhood, passing out and installing smoke alarms, combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers and house numbers to depict a home’s address from the outside.

RTWR Executive Director Joanne Alford-Robinette spoke with The Journal Tuesday morning about the event.

According to Alford-Robinette, this event comes after the death of a homeowner and their caretaker in early 2021. Rebuild Together had begun the work to assist the homeowner in repairs and additions onto their home, but before the work could begin in full, a house fire killed both the homeowner and his caretaker. Over the course of nearly two years, Rebuild Together has worked to become more proactive in fire safety and prevention.

Rebuilding Together received a grant from International Paper Flint River Mill in the amount of $3,000, “to purchase fire safety equipment for the Fire Safety and Prevention Program.” The group combined the funds from that grant with a “generous in-kind donation” of equipment from Truist Bank, estimated at over $2,000.

Rebuild Together called the event “a total success.”

“Many of the families stated how pleased they were to receive the fire safety equipment and expressed how grateful they were to know that their home would be safer for their family,” the release stated. “RTWR is looking forward to holding another Fire Safety and Prevention event next year and serving more residents.”

All together, Warner Robins’ Camellia Circle neighborhood received 50 fire extinguishers, 75 smoke alarms or combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors as well as 25 sets of house numbers. They were installed within the home at the time of distribution.

WRFD Chief Ross Moulton commented on the event in a press release published by the City of Warner Robins.

“This was a tremendous opportunity to meet our neighbors and make a life-saving difference for those that may face a home emergency,” Moulton said. “Our firefighters enjoyed giving back to the community, making new friends and providing equipment that can make a tremendous impact.”

In the same release, Alford-Robinette thanked the partners and volunteers who helped make the event a reality.

Rebuild Together’s release made note of several families who were not present at the time of the event and not able to participate. RTWR hopes to hold another Fire Safety and Prevention event next year.

Rebuild Together Warner Robins works diligently throughout the year to assist individuals with fixed incomes in Warner Robins with repairs to their homes or by building necessary add-ons, such as wheelchair ramps. They do it, Alford-Robinette said, “because the need is there.”

“We only serve low-income veterans, seniors and disabled homeowners,” Alford-Robinette said. “All the work we do is at no cost to them.

“These are people on fixed incomes, they don’t have the money to make repairs to their homes. If we don’t help take care of the housing stock now, there’s not going to be any places to live.”

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