December 15, 2022 – The Decatur Fire Department has been honored as one of the top Fire Departments in Illinois for installing smoke detectors for residents through the “Be Alarmed” Program.
The Decatur Fire Department was recognized during an event to promote a new law effective January 1st that will require smoke detectors with a 10-year sealed battery, to be installed in all homes which were either built before 1988, or which do not already have hardwired smoke detectors.
According to The Illinois Fire Safety Alliance, there were 97 residential fire deaths in Illinois in 2021 alone. The majority of these deaths occurred in homes without working smoke detectors.
The General Assembly passed PA 100-0200 requiring Illinois residents to replace their old smoke detectors with the type that has a long-term 10-year sealed battery by 2023. Since 1988, the Illinois Smoke Detector Act has required all dwellings to have smoke detectors, the new requirement just updates that law to reflect the changes in new technology, while making it easier and more cost-effective to comply.
Illinois-based First Alert also donated smoke installation kits to the Decatur Fire Department for residential installation.
