Operation Save-A-Life kicked-off its summer safety initiative with the support of the Chicago Fire Department, ABC 7 News, Kidde, The Home Depot, and Camp I Am Me. The media event, which was held at Engine Company 115 on the south side of the city, had representatives from each of the collaborating partners to highlight the program.
Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt noted, “By equipping families with these crucial safety devices, we’re empowering them with the tools to detect and prevent devastating fires. The importance of having a working smoke detector in every home cannot be overstated. These small devices serve as our silent guardians standing watch day and night to alert us of in the event of danger.
The result of this partnership is a welcomed and appreciated 3,000 10-year battery smoke alarm donation to support the ongoing efforts of Camp I Am Me and the Office of the State Fire Marshal’s Be Alarmed! Smoke Alarm Installation Program. This $60,000+ valued gift will help support the safety and protection of more than 1,000 homes and 3,000 residents across the state.
Be Alarmed! Was developed in 2018 to educate Illinois residents on the dangers of residential fires as well as to ensure there are working smoke alarms properly installed in homes. To date, more than 260 Illinois fire departments participate in the program, resulting in 26,000+ alarms distributed, 6,000+ homes protected, and 15,000 residents educated on fire safety and home fire escape planning.
Through the Operation Save-A-Life program, smoke alarm manufacturer, Kidde, has already donated more than 1.5 million smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms to fire departments across the country.