Fire Officials Urge Residents to Protect Their Homes with Working Smoke Alarms and Safe Charging Practices

During the 2025 Statewide Blitz Illinois Fire Departments Installed 1,320 smoke alarms in one week!

Springfield, Ill- State and local fire safety officials gathered today at the Chicago Fire Department to emphasize the lifesaving importance of having working smoke alarms in every home and to highlight the Chicago Fire Department's ongoing efforts to help keep residents safe. Today also marks the start of Fire Prevention Week, an annual campaign that raises awareness about fire safety and provides families with information and resources to help prevent fires and protect themselves and their loved ones. Chicago firefighters regularly canvass neighborhoods, install smoke alarms, provide fire safety education, and work directly with residents to make sure they have the tools and information they need to prevent fires and respond quickly when a fire occurs.

"Having working smoke alarms in your home is one of the simplest and most important ways to protect yourself and your family from a home fire. When a fire starts, every second matters, and working smoke alarms provide the early warning people need to get out safely," said Illinois State Fire Marshal Michele Pankow. "Take a few minutes to test your alarms, make sure they are less than 10 years old, and replace any alarms that are damaged or not working properly. If you need assistance, contact your local fire department. Our goal is zero fire fatalities, and making sure every Illinois home has working smoke alarms is an important step toward achieving that goal."

"A properly installed and functioning smoke alarm is one of the simplest steps a homeowner or tenant can take to provide an early warning when a fire starts," said Chicago Fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt. "That warning can mean the difference between having time to escape and being trapped by fire and smoke."

According to the National Fire Protection Association, working smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by more than half (60 percent), while the majority of civilian home fire deaths continue to occur in homes with no smoke alarms or no working alarms.

The Chicago Fire Department offers these key smoke alarm safety tips:

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on each level of the home.
• Make sure smoke alarms meet the needs of all family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
• Test smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button.
• Replace all broken or expired smoke alarms that are 10 years old or older.

"The Be Alarmed! Smoke Alarm Installation Program aims to protect and educate residents across the entire state while reducing residential fire deaths and injuries. The partnerships built between Camp I Am Me, OSFM, and the 400 Illinois fire departments participating in this program has led to nearly 60,000 smoke alarms being distributed to protect residents - 1.5 million dollars' worth of life-saving equipment. This is vitally important as the installation data we have collected since the program began in 2018 has shown that more than 70% of smoke alarms in homes that are receiving replacement alarms are non-functioning. This is a result of no batteries in the units, dead batteries, or the alarms are more than 10-years old - in which the sensors can no longer be considered reliable," said Philip Zaleski, Executive Director of Camp I Am Me by Illinois Fire Safety Alliance. "Today, we are proud to highlight and acknowledge the Chicago Fire Department for their efforts to distribute and install tens of thousands of smoke alarms within the city over the years, but also for supporting our effort at the state level by gifting the Be Alarmed! program with nearly 10,000 units over the past eight years."

Fire officials also highlighted lithium-ion battery safety, the focus of this year's Fire Prevention Week theme, "Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower." The campaign emphasizes the simple steps people can take to charge devices safely and reduce the risk of battery-related fires. Safe charging starts with making smart choices every time you plug in.

Many devices used in our daily lives - phones, tablets, laptops, tools, toys, e-bikes, and scooters-run on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which store a lot of energy in a small space. If they are damaged or charged the wrong way, they can overheat, start a fire, or even explode.

The Chicago Fire Department stresses these important charging tips to help reduce the risk of an accidental fire:

• Use the cord and charger that came with your device or one approved by the manufacturer. Using the wrong charger can damage the battery and increase the risk of fire.
• Charge devices on a table, desk, or other hard, flat surface. Do not charge them on beds, couches, or under pillows. Devices and chargers produce heat during normal charging. Soft surfaces can trap heat and block airflow, which can cause the battery to overheat.
• Stop using your device if it feels very hot, starts to swell, is smoking, or has a strange smell. These are warning signs that the battery may be damaged or failing.
• Unplug your device when it is fully charged. Do not leave it plugged in longer than needed. Leaving a device plugged in too long can increase heat and stress on the battery.
• Charge larger items like e-bikes, scooters, and power tools outside and away from exits. These batteries are larger and store more energy. If they fail, fires can grow quickly and spread.
• When on a plane, keep your device where you can see it while charging. Do not charge devices in overhead compartments. Do not charge e-cigarettes or vapes on a plane. If a battery overheats or fails, it is important for the flight crew to respond quickly.

"Be Alarmed!" is a fire safety education and smoke alarm installation program administered cooperatively between Camp I Am Me (CIAM) and the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM). The program distributes fire safety education materials and 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms to fire departments in the state of Illinois. The fire departments then deliver the education while installing smoke alarms in at-risk homes within their communities. Both the educational materials and smoke alarms are provided at no cost as a result of funding from both the CIAM and OSFM.