“Be Alarmed!” is a fire safety education and smoke alarm installation program administered cooperatively between Camp I Am Me (CIAM) by Illinois Fire Safety Alliance and the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM). The program distributes FREE fire safety education materials and FREE 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms to fire departments in the state of Illinois. The fire departments then deliver the education and install smoke alarms in at-risk homes within their communities while recording data for reporting purposes. Both the educational materials and smoke alarms are provided to fire departments at no cost as a result of funding from both the CIAM and OSFM.
The program was developed to educate Illinois residents on the dangers of fire in the home and how to prevent fires from occurring in the home, as well as to ensure there are working smoke alarms properly installed in homes. By providing 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms, it ensures that the power source cannot be removed from the unit and, if properly maintained, will last the life of the device.
Camp I Am Me by Illinois Fire Safety Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides free programs throughout the year to children, adults, and families.
How Many Alarms Do I Need?
Requirements:
On January 1, a new Illinois LAW will require that any new smoke alarm installed in a single-family or multi-family home have 10-year sealed batteries. This will ensure the detector works when needed without homeowners maintaining new batteries every six months. Monthly testing is still encouraged!
By law, the Illinois Smoke Detector Act requires a smoke detector within 15 feet of every sleeping room. If mounted to the ceiling, smoke detectors must be 4-6 inches from the wall. They must be placed on every level of a home, except unoccupied attics. Carbon monoxide detectors are also required within 15 feet of sleeping spaces. You may request to have smoke alarms placed in every bedroom.
Two of our very own firefighters will be installing your new smoke detectors!
Unfortunately, if you are not a resident of East Dundee, South Barrington or Barrington Hills, we can not offer you the benefits of this program. Carpentersville Fire Department (acarrillo@cville.org) is offering this program as well! Reach out to your local Fire Department to find out!
Absolutely! Your hard-wired alarms in your home must stay active and up to code. These offered alarms are not to replace them but to add to your home.
Smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years. Check the manufacturer's recommendations for your specific model. We suggest writing the date on the Smoke Detectors when they are installed!
No, as a business owner, they must supply and install their own smoke alarms for their tenants by policy. The smoke alarms received from the Be Alarmed! Program are for homeowners only.
As long as there is no radioactive symbol or warning label, the detector can be disposed of through the regular trash. If the detector has a radioactive symbol or warning label, please consult your local recycling service. Please be sure to inspect the device thoroughly before making your final decision regarding disposal.
Test every month! Know what your smoke alarm sounds like!
Change batteries every year!
New alarms installed by our department provide an alarm that is equipped with a 10 year, non-replaceable & non-removeable battery.
Remember! Replace your alarms every ten years!
401 Dundee Ave, East Dundee, IL 60118
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