Citizens National Bank of Laurel has partnered together with the Pine Belt Chapter of the American Red Cross to spread fire safety awareness during the month of March.

Susan Wood, Laurel branch manager, said the bank enjoys being involved in the community.

“The Red Cross is an integral part of the community,” she said. “They physically take care of needs here in Jones County.”

Wood said Citizens National Bank spends a “large majority” of its advertising budget promoting the work of non-profit groups such as the Red Cross.

“On the 26th from 2 to 4 p.m., we will be having a live radio remote and fire safety day here,” Wood said of the Highway 15 N. location. “This is a joint effort with Hattiesburg and the local fire departments.”

Peggy Owens-Mansfield, executive director of the Pine Belt chapter, said the Red Cross has been part of the local community since 1917.

“I’m very pleased with community groups who use our organization to get people to be safer,” she said. “Anything we can do to get people better prepared, we’ll do.”

Owens-Mansfield shared a story of teaching a young girl how to escape from a burning house. Only days later, that skill helped save her family’s life.

“The mother thanked us at the Red Cross for giving her child the knowledge she didn’t have herself,” she said. “We want to get people to use their smoke detector and make a plan of escape. Kids think it’s a fun thing and it could be the difference in people living or not living.”

Last year alone, the Pine Belt Chapter assisted 117 families in Jasper, Jones, Smith and Wayne Counties who experienced house fires. Approximately 2,755 people die in house fires each year according to the National Fire Protection Association. That’s why spreading the fire prevention message is so important, Owens-Mansfield said.

“If you can impact one child or one person and they hear something that saves a life, that’s wonderful,” she said. “I believe the greatest heroes in this community are our volunteer fire departments. I know that we’re a lot safer because they work really hard to make it work for us.”

Lance Chancellor, Jones County Fire Council public information officer, thanked the Red Cross for assisting volunteer firefighters, who have battled more than 50 structure fires since Thanksgiving.

“You don’t know how many times a day this pager goes off,” he said. “We have volunteers who never turn their pagers off. We have over 350 volunteers and medical first responders who give of themselves to help the community.”

Chancellor noted that the Red Cross is always there, providing food or drink when needed.

Dan McKenna, Jones County fire coordinator, said volunteers are part of the hero team, which also includes the Red Cross, but they are also professional.

“When they hit the streets, it doesn’t matter if they are volunteer or career guys,” he said. “I’ll put our volunteers up against career departments. They do such a fine job of what they have to work with.”

McKenna said that is because many career firefighters are about the payday, while volunteers do to provide a service.

In addition to Chancellor and McKenna, officials from several volunteer fire departments were in attendance including Shady Grove, Rustin, Sharon, Calhoun and Powers.

Lee Garrick, who works with Calhoun and is District 1 chief, agreed with McKenna’s comparison of volunteer and career firefighters.

“Our pay’s a lot better and that’s getting the peace of mind knowing we can help our neighbors,” he said. “I’ve been in the fire service for 13 years. It’s a blessing to be able to work with such trained professionals.”

When asked about fire safety tips, Owens-Mansfield suggested keeping batteries charged in your smoke alarm and having an escape plan including a safe place the family can meet outside.

Chancellor and McKenna noted, however, that fire alarms do not wake young children so extra measure should be taken to warn them.

The American Red Cross offers a number of tips to protect families from fires including:

• Install smoke alarms outside each sleeping area and on each additional level of your residence. Keep new batteries on hand.

• Test smoke alarms once a month. Start a chart and sign it after each round of tests.

• Look at the fire extinguisher you have to ensure it is properly charged. Use the gauge or test button to check proper pressure. If the unit is low on pressure, damaged, or corroded, replace it or have it professionally serviced. Get training from the fire department in how to use the fire extinguisher. Only adults should handle and use extinguishers.

• Draw a floor plan of your home; mark two fire escape routes for each room.

• Pick a safe outside place to meet after escaping from a fire.

• Practice a crawl-low escape from your bedroom. Try it with your eyes closed to see how well you could do in thick smoke.

• Conduct a home fire drill at least twice a year with all members of your household.