Free smoke alarms available for deaf in Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana State Fire Marshal's Office is giving away smoke alarms designed for the deaf or hearing impaired.

State Fire Marshal Jim Greeson says the agency has given away about 700 of the alarms so far and still has 500 to distribute to people who can't afford them on their own.

The smoke alarms include a strobe light and bed shaker designed to alert those who can't hear and usually cost several hundred dollars. The alarms will be installed by local fire departments at no charge.

Applications are available online at: http://www.in.gov/dhs.

The giveaway is funded through a $300,000 grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U. S. Department of Homeland Security.