Fall Back to Safety This Weekend: Test, Inspect and Replace Smoke Alarms

As daylight-saving time ends this weekend, the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office is reminding residents to use the clock change as a prompt to test, inspect, and replace smoke and carbon-monoxide (CO) detectors in their homes.

Working smoke alarms are one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of dying in a home fire. According to the National Fire Protection Association, functioning smoke alarms can cut the risk of a fatal fire by more than half, yet many home fire deaths still occur in residences without working alarms.

In 2024, Illinois recorded 89 residential fire fatalities, most of which occurred in homes without fully operational smoke alarms. Nearly two-thirds of fatal fire incidents involved properties using battery-only powered units, while hardwired alarms operated in 94 percent of fires large enough to trigger an alert. The most common failures were traced to missing or dead batteries, disconnected alarms, or interrupted power sources.

Smoke alarms typically have a life span of ten years before they must be replaced. If your alarm was manufactured before October 2015, it’s time to install a newer unit—ideally one that uses a sealed ten-year battery. Modern home construction materials burn hotter and faster, often reducing escape time to less than three minutes, making reliable detection systems all the more critical.

Families are also encouraged to create and rehearse a fire-escape plan that includes two exit routes from every room, windows or doors that open easily, and a clearly defined meeting place outside such as a tree, mailbox, or light pole. Individuals with mobility limitations, infants, or others who may not wake to an alarm should have an assigned helper. Once outside during a fire, residents are urged to stay out and never return for pets or possessions.

With colder weather approaching, the Fire Marshal’s Office also reminds residents to schedule yearly inspections and cleanings of furnaces by a licensed HVAC technician. CO exposure remains a serious hazard; Illinois fire departments responded to nearly 10,000 CO-related incidents last year, and the state has averaged around 20 fatal accidental CO poisonings annually over the past decade.

To reduce CO risks, install and maintain detectors near sleeping areas, never use outdoor-only appliances such as grills or gas-powered tools indoors, avoid using an oven to heat your home, and never leave a vehicle running in an attached garage—even with the door open.

Taking a few proactive minutes this weekend to check alarms, review escape plans, and inspect heating systems can make a life-saving difference.