LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
October is National Fire Prevention Month, and officials are urging the public to take steps to protect their homes, families, and themselves.
On Thursday, Oct. 1, officials from the Illinois State Fire Marshall’s Office, Camp I Am Me and the Paris Fire Department convened at the Paris Fire Department to emphasize the importance of working smoke alarms and to promote a free installation program available to Paris residents.
Officials promoted the “Be Alarmed! Smoke Alarm Installation Program” – a program intended to protect and educate the public across the state while reducing residential fire deaths and injuries.
“Through the Be Alarmed! program, our firefighters can visit residents, install alarms where they’re needed, and talk through a fire escape plan, all at no cost to the homeowner,” Paris Fire Chief Zack Janis said.
During the 2025 Statewide Blitz, Illinois Fire Departments installed 1,320 smoke alarms in one week.
Officials stressed the importance of having a functioning smoke alarm in the home, saying it is one of the most important and simplest ways to protect yourself and your family.
“Every home in Paris should have working smoke alarms. They give families the warning they need to get out when a fire starts, but an alarm can’t help if it’s missing or no longer working,” Janis said.
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). Most civilian home fire deaths continue to occur in homes with no smoke alarms or no working alarms.
“Today, we are proud to highlight the Paris 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 215 alarms in 75 households since joining the program,” said Philip Zaleski, Executive Director of Camp I Am Me by Illinois Fire Safety Alliance.
Illinois State Fire Marshall Michele Pankow attended the event and emphasized how important smoke alarms are.
“It's very simple: working smoke alarms save lives. I cannot stress enough how vital they are in every home across the state of Illinois,” Pankow said.
She added that today’s fires burn hotter and faster than they did decades ago, giving families less than three minutes to escape safely.
Pankow explained that the items people have in their homes today are more flammable, such as plastics and synthetics.
Additionally, she said homes are now built airtight, resulting in fires burning hotter and faster.
“That gives you less time to get out, which really highlights the importance of having a functioning smoke alarm,” Pankow said.
If you already have a smoke alarm, it’s important that it is tested monthly and that it is up to date.
“It's very important that at the start of each month you press the test button on the smoke alarm to make sure that it's working,” said Public Information Officer for the Illinois State Marshall’s Office, JC Fultz.
“If you find that alarm is at least 10 years old or older, it is time to replace that alarm,” he said.
The Paris 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.
For more information, visit https://www.ifsa.org/prevention-resources/smoke-alarm.