Decatur Recognized for Installing 1,000 Smoke Alarms Through Statewide Safety Initiative (Decatur, IL) – State and local fire safety officials gathered at the Decatur Fire Department to recognize a major milestone in community safety efforts, as the city surpassed 1,000 smoke alarms installed through a statewide initiative aimed at reducing fire-related deaths and injuries.
The recognition highlights Decatur’s participation in the “Be Alarmed!” Smoke Alarm Installation Program, a partnership between the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) and Camp I Am Me. The program provides free smoke alarms and fire safety education to residents, particularly in at-risk households.
According to officials, the Decatur Fire Department has installed more than 1,000 alarms across 602 households, helping protect 1,318 residents since joining the program.
“Working smoke alarms save lives, it’s that simple,” said Illinois State Fire Marshal Michele Pankow. “Just one properly installed smoke alarm can mean the difference between life and death. These alarms give residents precious time to safely evacuate and help protect firefighters by reducing the need for risky rescue operations.”
Fire officials emphasized the urgency of maintaining functional smoke alarms, noting that inflation and competing household expenses can lead families to delay replacing or maintaining them.
“The ‘Be Alarmed!’ program plays a critical role in protecting the residents of the Decatur community,” said Decatur Fire Department Fire Inspector Matt Jones. “By providing access to free smoke alarms and ensuring they are properly installed, this program directly addresses that risk—helping to save lives and strengthen the overall safety of our community.”
Data from the National Fire Protection Association underscores the importance of working alarms. Smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by 54%, while nearly three out of five fire deaths occur in homes with no alarms or non-functioning devices.
Program leaders say the need is clear. Since its launch in 2018, more than 70% of smoke alarms replaced through the initiative were found to be non-working due to dead or missing batteries or being more than 10 years old.
Camp I Am Me Executive Director Philip Zaleski said the program has distributed more than 52,000 smoke alarms statewide—representing over $1.25 million in life-saving equipment—through partnerships with more than 375 Illinois fire departments.
Officials also shared key safety recommendations for residents, including installing smoke alarms in every bedroom and on each level of the home, testing alarms monthly and replacing units that are 10 years old or older.
The “Be Alarmed!” program continues to offer no-cost smoke alarm installation and fire safety education to Illinois residents, aiming to reduce residential fire deaths while expanding access to critical safety resources.
Decatur Recognized for Installing 1,000 Smoke Alarms Through Statewide Safety Initiative
