1,000 Smoke Alarms Installed: Buffalo Grove Earns State Recognition

Working smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by more than half, 54%

Buffalo Grove, Ill- State and local fire safety experts gathered in Buffalo Grove to recognize the Buffalo Grove Fire Department for installing 1,000 smoke alarms in homes throughout the village. The event also provided an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of having working smoke alarms and to highlight a no-cost smoke alarm installation program available to Buffalo Grove residents.

"Working smoke alarms save lives, it's that simple! The OSFM is a proud partner in the "Be Alarmed!" Smoke Alarm Installation Program, a proven lifesaving initiative. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the dedicated fire departments across Illinois who go above and beyond to educate their communities and install these critical alarms in homes. Just one properly installed smoke alarm can mean the difference between life and death," said Illinois State Fire Marshal Michele Pankow. "Not only do these alarms give residents precious time to safely evacuate, but they also help protect our firefighters by reducing the need for risky rescue operations inside burning homes."

"Buffalo Grove Fire Department is proud to participate in the "Be Alarmed!" program offered by Camp I Am Me by the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance in partnership with the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal. This impactful initiative brings critical fire safety education directly into residents' homes and has helped install over 1,000 additional smoke alarms throughout our village," said Buffalo Grove Fire Chief Lawrence Kane. "By ensuring residents have working smoke alarms and the knowledge to respond quickly in the event of a fire, we are helping families stay safer and giving them greater peace of mind. We are grateful to our partners, firefighters, and community members whose commitment continues to make this important program possible."

According to the National Fire Protection Association, smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by more than half, 54% to be exact. Meanwhile, roughly three out of five fire deaths happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

The Buffalo Grove Fire Department offers these key smoke alarm safety tips and guidelines:

• 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 more than 390 Illinois fire departments participating in this program and has led to more than 58,000 smoke alarms being distributed to protect citizens - nearly 1.5 million dollars' worth of life-saving equipment," said Camp I Am Me Executive Director Philip Zaleski. "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 as a result a result of no batteries in the units, dead batteries, or the alarms are more than 10-years old. Today we are proud to highlight the Buffalo Grove Fire Department for not only their dedication to fire safety education outreach in the community, but also for their efforts with Be Alarmed! as they have installed more than 1,000 alarms in 363 households, protecting 847 of their residents since joining the program."

"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.