Life after the big win

© 2007 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc./ADAM LARKEY REGULAR JOE- Camarillo firefighter Greg Chavez, shown above in a picture taken last year while competing in the ABC reality television show "American Inventor," said life has returned to normal since winning the $1million grand prize for his selfcontained Christmas tree sprinkler system. When people recognize Greg Chavez as the $1million winner of TV's "American Inventor," one of the first questions they ask is if Greg has quit his job.

"Are you kidding?" his wife, Rozanne, asks them. "We live in Southern California and we have six kids. It doesn't go that far after taxes."

Life is pretty much the same for the Camarillo family: Greg, 44, still works as a Ventura County firefighter; Rozanne, 40, is a hair stylist, and the four of their six children still living at home continue to attend public school.

But there are modest signs of extra money at their blue twostory home in Mission Oaks: A piano now sits in the front room, and a new front lawn and driveway are being put in.

But the most significant changes are less apparent. Chavez and his wife, whose six children are age 8 to 21, have paid off all of their credit card debt as well as personal loans from family members. Both of their cars are paid off and upto-date on maintenance. Their children can indulge their interests in karate and piano lessons.

"I tell people, 'You have got to get out of debt; you don't know how it can change your life," Rozanne said on a recent Friday afternoon.

Chavez's invention- the Guardian Angel, a selfcontained fire sprinkler designed to extinguish a Christmas tree fire and disguised as a Christmas present and tree-top angel- beat out the competition last August to win first place and the million dollars on ABC's reality television show "American Inventor."

Chavez built and installed fire sprinkler systems for a living before becoming a firefighter five years ago. The idea and design for the Guardian Angel sprang from those 15 years of experience and from his knowledge of how fires start and the damage they can cause.

Rozanne and the children had faith in Chavez's invention and took a financial risk so that he could be on the show. Chavez's job is the family's main source of income, so when he took months off from work to appear on the program, Rozanne worked extra shifts to make it through.

"I feel like God's hand was in it," Rozanne said. "That's why I wasn't super worried. I felt like it would end well."

Chavez said, "Intellectually, I knew it was a risk; emotionally . . . I knew I would win."

Smoke alarm maker First Alert is designing and developing Chavez's invention to be sold nationwide.

Chavez owns the patent and has been consulting on the project, traveling several times to Aurora, Ill., to meet with First Alert engineers.

A sleeker, easy-to-use and less expensive Guardian Angel for the kitchen, water heater and other areas of the house where fires are likely to start could hit store shelves this year or next, Chavez said. But the final product can't be rushed.

"People want peace of mind, so the product must be perfect," he said.

Chavez, a Camarillo native, is often recognized, but has he reached celebrity status in his hometown?

People in Camarillo are too down-to-earth for that, he said, although he admits he's moved by people who say they voted for his invention on the show.

"I think people in Camarillo think they're a part of it, because they know me . . . And as far as I'm concerned they are," Chavez said.

Those moments of recognition can come at awkward times for the firefighter, such as the time he responded to an emergency call for a woman in medical distress. While he was trying to care for her, she recognized him and exclaimed, "You're the American Inventor."

"Yes," Chavez told her, "but let's take care of you first."

Winning the grand prize hasn't made the family rich, but it has given Chavez and his wife the luxury of time and options. Chavez doesn't have to work as much overtime, and Rozanne works if and when she wants.

"It's our choice, whereas before it was for survival," Rozanne said.

The children say life is better. Faith, 8, said she's happy her mother has more time to help her with homework and take her to the park.