New legislation would require Illinois residents to replace their smoke detectors.
Newer models can be temporarily silenced for burned pizza — so homeowners don’t have to remove the battery.
Springfield Fire Marshal Chris Richmond says non-functioning smoke detectors are found at the scene of many fire deaths.
“Here in Springfield just on February 13th, we had a three-year-old die in an apartment fire. That apartment did not have functioning smoke alarms. Tragic situation, tough on my personnel, tough on the entire community.”
The proposal’s sponsor says homes built before 1988 would have five years to get in compliance with the new alarm standards.
But the rule would not apply to Chicago. Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office says the city has installed new detectors in targeted neighborhood. It says the alarms required under current law are “more economical and just as effective.”
