Illinois DCFS raises awareness of working smoke alarms during Fire Prevention Week

SPRINGFIELD – This is Fire Prevention Week and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is taking this time to remind the public about the importance of creating and practicing a home fire escape plan so they know what to do if the smoke alarm sounds. Since launching the initiative in 2019, DCFS has distributed 3,154 smoke alarms to families across Illinois, including 897 this year. Illinois law requires every household to have smoke alarms within 15 feet of every bedroom and at least one on each floor of the home.
Keeping children safe is our #1 priority and ensuring that every family we serve has a working smoke alarm is an extra layer of protection we can provide,” said Illinois DCFS Director Marc D. Smith.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, three out of five home fire deaths result from fires in properties without working smoke alarms and more than one-third of home fire deaths result from fires in which no smoke alarms are present.