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Working smoke alarms save
lives—fire officials stress importance of having them in every home
[October 03, 2025]
Springfield, Ill - State and
local fire safety officials gathered today at the Springfield Fire
Department to emphasize the lifesaving importance of working smoke
alarms and to promote a free installation program available to
Springfield residents. As part of the 2nd Annual Statewide Smoke
Alarm Blitz, the Springfield Fire Department joins agencies across
Illinois in ensuring more families are protected.
“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. “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. Our ultimate goal is zero fire
fatalities—and ensuring every home has working smoke alarms is one
of the most important steps toward making that a reality.”
“The Springfield Fire Department wants to extend our gratitude to
the OSFM, Camp I Am Me by Illinois Fire Safety Alliance, and
American Red Cross for their generous donation of smoke alarms
throughout the years. 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
Springfield Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Julie Plunk.
According to the National Fire
Protection Association, working smoke alarms reduce the risk of
dying in a home fire by more than half (60 percent), while the
majority of civilian home fire deaths continues to occur in homes
with no smoke alarms or no working alarms.
“Working together with our partners, we are not only protecting
property, but more importantly, we are saving lives. Our community
deserves the highest level of safety, and ensuring every household
has working smoke alarms is one of the most effective ways to
achieve that,” said Springfield Fire Marshal Todd Taylor.
The Springfield Fire Department offers these key smoke alarm safety
tips and guidelines:
Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area,
and on each level of the home.
Make sure smoke alarms meet the needs of all family members,
including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
Test smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button.
Replace all broken or expired smoke alarms that are 10 years old or
older.
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“The Be Alarmed! Smoke Alarm Installation Program aims to
protect and educate residents across the entire state while
reducing residential fire deaths and injuries,” said Philip
Zaleski, Executive Director of Camp I Am Me by Illinois Fire
Safety Alliance. “The partnerships built between Camp I Am Me,
OSFM, and the more than 350 Illinois fire departments
participating in this program has led to nearly 50,000 smoke
alarms being distributed to protect residents – more than $1.25
million worth of life-saving equipment. We are proud to
highlight the Springfield Fire Department for not only their
efforts with Be Alarmed! as they have installed nearly 200 smoke
alarms in households since joining the program, but also due to
their collaboration with this program and School District 186,
supporting deaf and hard of hearing students through the
installation of specialized bed shaker smoke alarms in those
families’ homes.”
In 2024, the Statewide Blitz once again demonstrated the impact
of collaboration and community outreach. In just one week, 71
Illinois fire departments installed 2,351 smoke alarms in 743
homes across the state. Beyond providing this lifesaving
protection, firefighters educated 1,670 residents on fire safety
practices—helping families not only have working alarms but also
the knowledge to respond quickly and safely in an emergency. The
program also achieved a milestone with its first documented save
in Greenville, where newly installed alarms alerted an elderly
resident to danger, and she was able to escape safely.
“Be Alarmed!” is a fire safety education and smoke alarm
installation program administered cooperatively between Camp I
Am Me (CIAM) and the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM).
The program distributes fire safety education materials and
10-year sealed battery smoke alarms to fire departments in the
state of Illinois. The fire departments then deliver the
education while installing smoke alarms in at-risk homes within
their communities. Both the educational materials and smoke
alarms are provided at no cost as a result of funding from both
the CIAM and OSFM.
To learn more about the program visit:
www.ifsa.org/alarms
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