Illinois Law Mandates All Smoke Detectors Have a Sealed Battery

A news conference was held in Quincy yesterday regarding a new law in Illinois that requires that traditional battery operated smoke detectors be transitioned over to new 10-year sealed battery detectors before the year 2023.

The news conference featured personnel from the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance, the Quincy Fire Department, The Tri-Township Fire Department along with Illinois State Senator Jil Tracy and Illinois State Representative Randy Frese.

Since 1988 all dwelling units in Illinois have been required  to have smoke detectors and alarms.  Unfortunately, Illinois has had one of the highest residential fire death rates in the nation with 70% of fire deaths occurring in residences without a working smoke detector.  Many off them have had the batteries removed or were no longer good. This new proposal will make it impossible to remove the battery from the unit.

The Quincy Fire Department continues to offer free smoke detectors and installations for Quincy residents.  These new detectors will comply with the new law and are made available through a partnership between First Alert, Kidde and the American Red Cross.