City of Gaffney Fire Department Training Officer Scott Coleman installs a smoke detector during a visit to one of four Gaffney homes Monday. (Ledger photo / TIM GULLA) Lugging a step ladder in one hand and tools in the other, Scott Coleman walked up to Annie Rainey’s home on Monday with a disarming smile and a simple mission.

He wanted to make sure Rainey and her home were properly protected, and Rainey agreed she had plenty worth protecting as she pointed to a display of her grandchildren’s crayon drawings on a kitchen wall.

“This is a blessing to me,” Rainey said as Coleman finished up his work. “It really is.“

Coleman, the training officer for the City of Gaffney Fire Department, helped launch a new safety program this week through which the fire department will be installing free smoke detectors in selected city homes.

The city fire department obtained 99 smoke detectors for the program through a special grant from the state Department of Health and Environmental Control. Coleman said the grant was perfectly timed, too, since Gaffney is heading into the winter heating season.

The smoke detectors won’t be simply handed out, however.

“We’ll come to your residence and install them for you so we’ll be able to make sure they’re placed in the proper location and are in proper working order,” Coleman said.

Coleman said the program is aimed at lower- income families with children and senior citizens, especially those who don’t have smoke detectors or who have very old models. Smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years, Coleman said.

The models being given out through the program have a 10-year battery built in, so replacement will be required a decade from now.

“Smoke detectors are not going to prevent a fire but will alert the occupants and give them time to escape,” Coleman said.

Anyone interested in obtaining a smoke detector can call the Gaffney Fire Department at 487- 8516. The program is open to residents in the Greater Gaffney fire protection district, which is covered by the three Gaffney fire stations including Headquarters, and the East Gaffney and Overbrook stations.

Firefighters will schedule appointments to install the devices.

Coleman installed smoke detectors at four houses Monday. He said firefighters also will be happy to do a safety inspection and answer any questions homeowners might have during their visits.

Ironically, the Gaffney Fire Department had to commit some of its members to become certified child safety seat inspectors to receive the grant for the smoke detectors. That training will take place in early 2010.

Coleman said the Gaffney Fire Department hopes to partner with other fire departments and law enforcement agencies for child safety seat inspection programs in the future.