Galesburg Reporter

City of Galesburg issued the following announcement on Oct. 15

In conjunction with Fire Prevention Month, state and local fire safety experts gathered at the Galesburg Fire Department yesterday to make the public aware of Illinois' new 10-year smoke detector law. (Watch the Press Conference)

"In 2020, there were 107 residential fire deaths in Illinois and sadly nearly 70 percent of these deaths are occurring in homes without working smoke detectors," said Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (IFSA) Executive Director, Philip Zaleski. "We worked with the General Assembly to pass a law to address this horrific problem, by requiring Illinois residents to replace their old smoke detectors with the type that has a long-term 10-year sealed battery by the end of 2022. This would apply to residents that are still using alarms with removable batteries or alarms that are not hardwired."

"To have the technology readily available to save lives and prevent injuries and yet not use it, was something is something that needed to change. Residential smoke detectors are not a new requirement. Since 1988, the Illinois Smoke Detector Act has required all dwellings to have smoke detectors, Homes built starting in 1988 had to have hardwired smoke alarms and any dwelling built before then, could use alarms that were just battery operated. The new requirement simply updates that law to reflect the changes in new technology, while making it easier and more cost-effective for Illinois residents to comply. This new law would apply mostly to homes built prior to 1988," Zaleski further explained.

"Nothing is more heartbreaking than to respond to a fatal fire and find non-working smoke detectors in the home. While the number of fire deaths may have decreased in the past few decades, you are more likely to die in a residential fire than you were years ago. This is because the majority of these deaths are caused by smoke inhalation and not burns, which is why early warning for smoke alarms is so critical. The toxic gases that are emitted from the synthetic material in modern homes (as opposed to the more natural woods and fibers that were used in the past) contribute to this problem and flashover is occurring in as little as 3 minutes as opposed to almost 30 minutes a generation ago," explained Galesburg Fire Chief Randy Hovind.

"With a long-term 10-year battery smoke alarm, there is no need for battery replacement; saving the average homeowner between $40-$60 in battery costs over the life of each alarm. At the end of the 10-year life cycle, the smoke alarm will automatically alert the homeowner to replace the alarm," added Zaleski. He explained further, "while many people deactivate their older model smoke alarms or remove the batteries while cooking, the 10-year model is not a cooking nuisance and has a 15-minute silencer button. They are also very affordable with the current retail price being about $15 and as low as $10 if you buy them in bulk. To avoid "false alarms", smoke detectors should not be placed within 15 feet of a stove or within 3 feet of bathrooms because of the humidity."

"Fire does not discriminate and can happen at any time, anywhere, and to anyone. The Office of the State Fire Marshal is proud to support the Be Alarmed! Program, which continues to provide lifesaving education and smoke detectors to a residence in Illinois. With each smoke detector installed, this reduces the risk of tragedy in our communities. We encourage everyone to check their smoke detectors in their homes and make sure they are working monthly. Replace expired or broken detectors with the new 10-year sealed battery ones," said Illinois State Fire Marshal Matt Perez.

Illinois-based Fire Alert donated 10-year battery smoke alarms and the tools and equipment to install the alarms to the Galesburg Fire Department to help reduce the number of fire-related injuries to those in the community.

To learn more about protecting your family from smoke, fire, and carbon monoxide, visit the IFSA or the First Alert websites.

ABOUT THE ILLINOIS FIRE SAFETY ALLIANCE: Since 1982, the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (IFSA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has been bringing together persons and groups with common interest in fire safety, burn prevention and public education and to promote programs and disseminate information related to fire safety and burn prevention. The IFSA also hosts burn survivor support programs including the Young Adult Summit and Camp "I Am Me," a unique week-long camp for children who have experienced severe burn injuries. 

Original source can be found here.