Rockford and state firefighters stress need for working smoke detectors, offer free installation
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Firefighters here and across the state are stressing the importance of having working smoke detectors in every home, and they’re promoting a program that allows you to get one installed at no cost.
State and local firefighters held a news conference Tuesday at Rockford Fire Department Station No. 3 on Marchesano Drive to promote the free installation program as part of Fire Prevention Week in Illinois. Rockford residents can call the Fire Prevention Division at 779-348-7172 to arrange an installation.
Working smoke alarms reduce the risk of death in a house fire by approximately 60%, according to the National Fire Protection Association. The majority of civilian fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke detectors or no working alarms.
“Working smoke alarms save lives, and I cannot stress enough how vital they are in every home across Illinois,” said Illinois State Fire Marshal Michele Pankow, the former Rockford Fire Chief. “Fires burn hotter and faster today than they did decades ago, giving families less than three minutes to escape safely. That’s why it’s critical to test, inspect and replace broken or expired alarms, and don’t hesitate to reach out to your local fire department for help.”
The fire safety education and smoke alarm installation program is administered cooperatively between Camp I Am Me and the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal. Fire safety education materials and 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms are distributed to fire departments across the state to install in residents’ homes.
More than 350 fire departments in the state participate in the program, and nearly 50,000 smoke alarms have been distributed to residents, according to Philip Zaleski, executive director of Camp I Am Me by Illinois Fire Safety Alliance.
“These donated smoke alarms allow us to protect more homes, especially those most in need, by ensuring families have the early warning they need in the event of a fire,” said interim Rockford Fire Chief Brian Carlson. “This continued support helps us keep Rockford residents safe and ultimately saves lives.”
The Rockford Fire Department has installed more than 450 alarms in 286 households since joining the program, Zaleski said.
This is the second year of a promotion called the Statewide Smoke Alarm Blitz. Last year, 71 fire departments installed 2,351 smoke alarms in one week.
Aside from calling to request an installation, firefighters have smoke detectors with them when they make medical calls or other responses to homes.
“Every truck in our department has smoke alarms,” said Rockford Fire Department Division Chief Luis Duran. “We often find that we do come across homes that don’t have them or don’t have working smoke alarms.”
Firefighters reminded residents to test their smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button. You should also replace all broken or expired smoke alarms.
“If you have a smoke alarm in your house that looks like this, it’s probably time to change the smoke alarm,” JC Fultz, public information officer for the Illinois State Fire Marshal, said while holding up a yellowed aging alarm. “You need to be testing these monthly. You need to be inspecting the back of these, the expiration dates on these alarms. If they are 10 years old or older, it is time to replace that alarm.”
Smoke alarms are recommended in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on each level of the home.
Smoke detector installation
The Rockford Fire Department is providing smoke alarm installations all city residents free of charge. Fire personnel will also assist with installation. Call the Fire Prevention Division at 779-348-7172 to arrange an installation.
For residents outside of Rockford, contact the non-emergency line of your local fire department.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
