State and local fire safety officials gathered Thursday at the Moline Fire Department to stress the importance of working smoke alarms and to promote a free installation program available to Moline residents.

The officials pointed to the Be Alarmed! Smoke Alarm Installation Program, a statewide effort that provides 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms and fire safety education at no cost to residents.

"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," said Illinois State Fire Marshal Michele Pankow. "When a fire starts, every second matters, and working smoke alarms provide the early warning people need to get out safely." Pankow urged residents to test their alarms, make sure they are less than 10 years old, and replace any that are damaged or not working.

City of Moline Fire Marshal Mitch Cunningham said checking alarms takes only minutes. "In the time it takes to watch your favorite TikTok video, you could test your smoke or carbon monoxide detector," he said. "A few minutes today could make all the difference tomorrow!"

According to the National Fire Protection Association, working smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by more than half, while most civilian home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or no working alarms, officials said.

Smoke alarm safety tips

The Moline Fire Department offered these guidelines:

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

About Be Alarmed!

Be Alarmed! is administered cooperatively by Camp I Am Me and the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal. Both the educational materials and the alarms are provided free, funded by the two organizations.

Philip Zaleski, executive director of Camp I Am Me by Illinois Fire Safety Alliance, said partnerships among Camp I Am Me, the state fire marshal's office and 400 participating Illinois fire departments have led to nearly 60,000 smoke alarms being distributed since the program began in 2018 — about $1.5 million worth of equipment. He said installation data shows more than 70% of alarms in homes receiving replacements are non-functioning because of missing or dead batteries or age.

Zaleski credited the Moline Fire Department for installing more than 900 alarms in 221 households since joining the program.

Officials said that during the 2025 Statewide Blitz, Illinois fire departments installed 1,320 smoke alarms in 465 homes in a single week and educated 1,084 residents on fire safety.

Residents who need assistance are urged to contact their local fire department. To learn more about the program, visit www.ifsa.org/alarms.

Source: the original release