The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services has announced a new way to provide smoke alarms for families that are served by the department if they don’t already have working smoke alarms. Families served by DCFS can request smoke alarms from their caseworkers; while caseworkers will have a supply of smoke alarms as well.

Maria Miller who is the DCFS Regional Administrator, says that half of home heating fires are reported during the months of December, January, and February. According to the National Fire Protection Association; 3 out of every 5 home fire deaths result from fires in properties without working smoke alarms. More than ? of home fire deaths result from fires in which no smoke alarms are present. 

The program was launched in Macon County and DCFS is proud to announce that they have already distributed 15 smoke alarms to Macon County Families.  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.

For more information on this program contact DCFS or call 312-814-6800.