Buffalo Grove Fire Department Marks 1,000 Smoke Alarm Installations

BUFFALO GROVE, IL — The Buffalo Grove Fire Department has installed more than 1,000 smoke alarms in homes across the village through a free statewide fire-safety program, officials announced.

State and local fire-safety officials recently gathered in Buffalo Grove to recognize the department for reaching the milestone and to remind residents that no-cost smoke alarm installations remain available through the "Be Alarmed!" program.

The program is administered by Camp I Am Me by the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance in partnership with the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal. Fire departments receive 10-year sealed-battery smoke alarms and educational materials, then install the alarms in qualifying homes at no cost to residents.

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Buffalo Grove Fire Chief Lawrence Kane said the program has allowed firefighters to bring safety education directly into residents' homes while making sure families have working alarms.

"By ensuring residents have working smoke alarms and the knowledge to respond quickly in the event of a fire, we are helping families stay safer and giving them greater peace of mind," Kane said.

363 Households Reached

Since joining the program, the Buffalo Grove Fire Department has installed more than 1,000 alarms in 363 households, protecting 847 residents, according to Camp I Am Me Executive Director Philip Zaleski.

Statewide, more than 390 Illinois fire departments participate in the program, which has distributed more than 58,000 smoke alarms valued at nearly $1.5 million since it began in 2018, Zaleski said.

Program data also shows a significant need for replacements. More than 70 percent of alarms being replaced in participating homes were not functioning because batteries were missing or dead, or because the alarms were more than 10 years old, according to Zaleski.

Working Alarms Cut Fire-Death Risk

Illinois State Fire Marshal Michele Pankow said working smoke alarms can make the difference between escaping a fire and a fatal outcome.

"Working smoke alarms save lives, it's that simple," Pankow said. "Not only do these alarms give residents precious time to safely evacuate, but they also help protect our firefighters by reducing the need for risky rescue operations inside burning homes."

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According to the National Fire Protection Association, working smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by 54 percent. Roughly three out of five home-fire deaths occur in homes where smoke alarms are either absent or not working.

The Buffalo Grove Fire Department recommends residents install alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of a home. Alarms should be tested monthly and replaced when broken, expired or 10 years old or older.

Residents should also make sure alarms meet the needs of household members with sensory or physical disabilities.

Free Program Available

The "Be Alarmed!" program provides smoke alarms and fire-safety education at no cost through funding from Camp I Am Me and the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal.

Residents interested in obtaining alarms or learning whether they qualify for an installation can contact the Buffalo Grove Fire Department for more information.

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