Centralia Fire participating in free smoke alarm program
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By MONICA SEALS
MARION COUNTY — As part of Fire Prevention Month, the Office of the State Fire Marshal and their partners at Camp I Am Me (CIAM) by Illinois Fire Safety Alliance have teamed up with local fire departments through the Be Alarmed! smoke alarm installation program to hold a smoke alarm blitz from Oct. 20 through 26.
The Centralia Fire Department is one of those agencies taking part in Be Alarmed! and will be installing no-cost smoke alarms for the residents of the City of Centralia.
The Be Alarmed! smoke alarm installation program provides smoke alarms and fire prevention materials to Illinois fire departments, to both educate residents on fire safety as well as to provide them with life-saving devices in their homes.
As part of Fire Prevention Month, the Centralia Fire Department will be installing 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms to enhance home safety and protect families.
Centralia Fire Chief Jeff Day emphasized the critical importance of working smoke alarms, stating, “This year’s National Fire Prevention Week campaign is, ‘Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!’ as smoke alarms are the most effective early warning devices available. By simply having a working smoke alarm in your home, you can reduce your risk of fire-related fatalities by half. With the reliable 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms, residents can rest assured that their homes are safeguarded for years to come.”
According to the Office of the Illinois Fire Marshal, bulk amounts of alarms will be delivered to participating departments based on the size and scope of the department’s blitz.
Alarms received through this specific request are expected to be installed during the week of Oct. 20 through 26, to the best of the department’s abilities. Staffing challenges often keep volunteer departments from participating in the smoke alarm program.
The program distributes fire safety education materials and 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms to fire departments in the state of Illinois.
Smaller, local fire departments took advantage of educational materials during Fire Prevention Week Oct. 6 through 12. Sandoval Fire Protection District taught local grade school students about fire prevention.
In addition to providing smoke alarms, the program includes educating residents on creating home fire escape plans to empower them with the knowledge of how to respond in case of an emergency.
“Our primary goal is to ensure (that) all residents have the lifesaving protection of a smoke alarm,” explained City of Centralia Fire Chief Jeff Day. “While smoke alarms play a crucial role in fire safety, we also strive to educate the community on the importance of being prepared with an actionable fire escape plan.”
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), working smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by more than half.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal said that smoke alarms should be installed in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area – such as a hallway — and on each level, including the basement, of the home.
The State of Illinois reports in 2023 that there were 89 residential fire deaths in the state, with the majority of those deaths occurring in homes without working smoke detectors.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal said that smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years, and should be tested once a month.
Residents interested in learning more about the City of Centralia Fire Department’s smoke alarm installation program are encouraged to contact the department at 618-533-7660 or email centfd@yahoo.com.
