South Elgin installs free fire/carbon monoxide detectors

The South Elgin and Countryside Fire Protection District wants to get the word out that firefighters can install free smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in residents' homes.

The program - which recently received a donation of more than 150 detectors from Home Depot in South Elgin - has been around for a few years but mostly targeted seniors, Assistant Fire Chief Steve Wascher said. About two years ago, the manufacturer Kidde donated about 200 smoke detectors.

Fire officials decided to make a broader push after a fire prevention education initiative at Willard Elementary School, which included asking students to go home and check if they had working smoke detectors.

"Fifteen students came back saying they don't have any," Wascher said. "Our goals is to make sure every home has a working smoke and carbon monoxide detector."

The fire district serves about 28,000 residents in South Elgin and surrounding unincorporated areas.

The district has stockpiled about 400 smoke and carbon monoxide detectors ready to be installed, said firefighter/paramedic Rich Stumbaugh, who coordinates the program with fire inspector Dave Carlson. Installation includes free replacement batteries.

"To date, we have replaced about 30," Carlson said. "Not a lot of people are aware of the program. They usually do something after something happens."

Data shows that three-fourths of fire-related deaths are in homes with no working smoke alarms, fire officials said.

To get a free home fire safety review and to have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors installed, or to get replacement batteries, call (847) 741-2141 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.

Residents living in rental properties or condos should contact their landlord or property owners' association for smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and/or batteries.