Peoria Standard

State and local fire officials gathered at the Peoria Civic Center to highlight the importance of having working smoke alarms in every home and to promote a free installation program available to Peoria residents. The event was part of the 2nd Annual Statewide Smoke Alarm Blitz, in which the Peoria Fire Department joined other agencies across Illinois to help protect families.

“Working smoke alarms save lives, and I cannot stress enough how vital they are in every home across Illinois,” said Illinois State Fire Marshal Michele Pankow. “Fires burn hotter and faster today than they did decades ago, giving families less than three minutes to escape safely. That’s why it’s critical to test, inspect, and replace broken or expired alarms, and don’t hesitate to reach out to your local fire department for help. Our ultimate goal is zero fire fatalities—and ensuring every home has working smoke alarms is one of the most important steps toward making that a reality.”

Peoria Fire Chief Shawn Sollberger acknowledged the support received from partner organizations: “The Peoria Fire Department would like to extend our gratitude to the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) and Camp I Am Me by the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance for their generous donations of smoke alarms over the years. These donated smoke alarms allow us to protect more homes, especially those most in need, by ensuring families have the early warning they need in the event of a fire. This continued support helps us keep Peoria residents safe and ultimately saves lives.”

According to data from the National Fire Protection Association, having a working smoke alarm can reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by more than half. Most civilian home fire deaths occur in homes without smoke alarms or with non-working alarms.

The Peoria Fire Department recommends installing smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of a home. It also advises testing alarms monthly, ensuring they are accessible for all family members including those with disabilities, and replacing any that are broken or more than 10 years old.

Philip Zaleski, Executive Director of Camp I Am Me by Illinois Fire Safety Alliance, described the statewide impact: “The Be Alarmed! Smoke Alarm Installation Program aims to protect and educate residents across the entire state of Illinois while reducing residential fire deaths and injuries. The partnerships built between Camp I Am Me, the OSFM, and the more than 350 Illinois fire departments participating in this program have led to nearly 50,000 smoke alarms being distributed to protect residents – more than $1.25 million worth of life-saving equipment. We are proud to highlight the Peoria Fire Department for not only their fire safety public education efforts in the community, but also for their efforts with Be Alarmed! as they have installed more than 900 alarms in 359 households since joining the program.”

In 2024, the Statewide Blitz saw 71 Illinois fire departments install a total of 2,351 smoke alarms in 743 homes during one week. During these visits, firefighters also educated over 1,600 residents about fire safety practices. The program recently recorded its first documented case where a newly installed alarm helped an elderly resident escape safely during a fire incident.

The “Be Alarmed!” program is a joint effort between Camp I Am Me and the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal. It provides both educational materials and 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms at no cost to participating fire departments, who then install them in at-risk homes while educating residents about fire safety.

Residents interested in learning more about the program can visit https://www.ifsa.org/prevention-resources/smoke-alarm/.