Prairie State Wire

The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) are urging residents to test, inspect, and replace any broken or expired smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms as daylight saving time ends this weekend.

In 2023, Illinois recorded 89 residential fire deaths, with most occurring in homes lacking working smoke alarms. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) states that nearly three out of five home fire deaths from 2018 to 2022 were in properties without functioning smoke alarms. Missing or non-functional power sources were often responsible for alarm failures.

"Statistics show smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by more than half," said Illinois State Fire Marshal James A. Rivera. "Take the time this weekend and test, inspect and replace any broken or expired alarms in your home."

Smoke alarms need replacement every ten years. Alarms manufactured before October 2014 should be replaced with a device featuring a sealed battery lasting ten years. Families are encouraged to review their fire escape plans, ensuring everyone knows two ways out of each room.

Additional safety tips include clearing escape routes, planning an outside meeting place, assigning assistance for those who may need help during emergencies, and never re-entering a burning building.

"Carbon monoxide can be a silent killer," warned Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. He emphasized testing CO alarms during the fall time change and inspecting furnaces regularly to prevent CO leaks.

Dr. Vohra highlighted that hundreds visit emergency rooms annually due to CO exposure in Illinois, with an average of 20 fatalities per year over the past decade from accidental poisoning. Preventive measures include installing CO detectors, having annual furnace inspections, avoiding indoor use of outdoor appliances like grills or generators, and not running vehicles inside attached garages.

For more information on fire escape planning: https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Staying-safe/Preparedness/Escape-planning.