The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is urging residents to test, inspect, and replace broken or expired smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in their homes as Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 AM on Sunday, March 9. This reminder comes as part of a broader initiative to enhance fire safety across the state.
“Early warnings from smoke alarms are crucial, as on average, a person has less than three minutes to escape a home fire today,” stated Illinois State Fire Marshal James A. Rivera. He emphasized the importance of regularly testing alarms and practicing fire escape plans with family members.
Statistics from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) indicate that nearly three out of every five home fire deaths in the U.S. occur in homes without working smoke alarms. The presence of functioning smoke alarms can reduce the risk of death by 60 percent.
Since 2018, data from the Be Alarmed! Smoke Alarm Installation Program reveals that 74% of pre-existing smoke alarms replaced were non-functional or expired. Philip Zaleski, Executive Director of Camp I Am Me by the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance, highlighted a recent success story: “We are excited to report our first direct save from our Be Alarmed! Smoke Alarm Installation Program in Greenville on February 16.”
In 2024 alone, over 2800 Illinois homes and more than 5,252 residents benefited from new smoke alarms and education about fire safety plans through this program. Since its inception in 2018, over 40,000 smoke alarms have been distributed across Illinois.
The “Be Alarmed!” program is a collaborative effort between Camp I Am Me and OSFM aimed at creating safer communities through education and alarm installation.
For further details on the “Be Alarmed!” program, visit https://www.ifsa.org/prevention-resources/smoke-alarm/
