Decatur Fire Department recognized for installing over 1,000 smoke alarms citywide

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - The Decatur Fire Department was honored by Camp I Am Me for installing over 1,000 new and working smoke alarms in homes across the city.

DFD did the installation in conjunction with Camp I Am Me and the State Fire Marshal's Office.

"We are proud to highlight the Decatur Fire Department, for not only their dedication to fire safety education in the community, but also for their efforts with Be Alarmed, as they've installed more than 1,000 alarms in 602 households, protecting 1,318 of their residents since joining the program in 2018," said Camp I Am Me Executive Director Philip Zaleski.

Nearly 400 fire departments statewide are involved in the Be Alarmed smoke alarm installation program.

"Whether it be financial constraints or just elderly age constraints, what we're seeing in the community, it allows us to make the community way safer," said DFD Fire Inspector Matt Jones.

Working smoke alarms are important to have in a home. Their main goal is to wake you up if a fire starts in the middle of the night.

"It's disheartening to see when you go to a fire, and there's no working smoke detectors, especially when it's a fatality," Deputy Chief Brian Lockwood said. "When it's something so small, such a small device can be life-saving, and we see it quite often."

The smoke alarms are given and installed for free to homeowners in Decatur. To check your eligibility and set up an appointment, call Fire Station 1 at 217-424-2811.