T-L Photos/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Jaime Betts, director of Belmont County CARES, holds up a smoke detector. Belmont County CARES and the Red Cross are partnering to make smoke detectors available to county residents.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Belmont County residents in need of a new smoke detector can get one — along with assistance installing it — through the Belmont County Community Access, Resources, Education and Solutions program, in partnership with the American Red Cross.

CARES Director Jaime Betts is working out of the Cumberland Trail Fire District, where he is a firefighter.

“It’s being offered through the fire department. We’ve signed an agreement with the Red Cross, so the Red Cross is providing the smoke detectors and the fire department personnel is going to be taking phone calls, setting up scheduling and going out and installing them in homes that need smoke detectors,” Betts said.

“We’ve offered smoke detectors in the past that’ve been through donations from area businesses. However, this is the first time we’ve done a partnership with the Red Cross in order to offer smoke detectors,” he said. “In the past, we know that other area fire departments have done similar things.”

He added there is no limit to the number of smoke detectors available.

“They said they can accommodate any number; however, someone has to come out and install it, they can’t just be given away,” he said. “This is initially being done for the Cumberland Trail Fire District’s area; however, it is open to the county.”

Belmont County residents who live outside of the fire district are asked to contact their local fire department.

“If their local fire department cannot accommodate them, then they can call us and we will figure out how to get them the smoke detectors,” he said.

Ra Lene Henthorn, disaster program specialist with the Red Cross, said this is part of the Home Fire Campaign and started in 2014 as part of the preparedness campaign.

“We look for partner agencies as well, such as the Cumberland Trail Fire District,” she said. “We can reach more people that way.”

More information can be found at redcross.org.

Betts said the fire department recommends people check their smoke detectors biannually.

“If they’re not able to check them, we can also assist with that. I know there’s some difficulty with the elderly as far as checking. If their family can’t help them,” Betts said.

He added that some tend to neglect or or overlook smoke detectors.

“A lot of people have smoke detectors and they just haven’t remembered to check them or change the batteries,” Betts said.

“Another thing they’re offering is if there’s a need for hearing-impaired, they are offering bed-shakers,” he said. “That involves an assessment, and they’re installed directly by the Red Cross, but that is an option as well for hearing-impaired.”

The CARES program was created to help residents navigate the various service organizations in the county. Since the beginning of the year, Betts has been getting the word out through visits to senior centers and other locations.

“There’s been a lot of home visits and helping people with their needs,” he said.

The fire district can be reached at 740-695-5147. People are asked to call from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.