Smoke Alarms to be Installed for Texas Senior Citizens

The Insurance Council of Texas announced it has joined Travelers Insurance Company, independent agencies and First Alert in donating several hundred smoke alarms to cities throughout Texas. The project, We’re Out to Alarm Texas, will benefit limited income and elderly Texans.

Firefighters in Waco, New Braunfels and Lockhart will begin installing the smoke alarms during the start of Fire Prevention Week, which gets underway Oct. 9.

ICT participated with the State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) in a review of fire data in assessing what communities had a higher than average number of seniors who were injured or killed in residential fires. New Braunfels and Waco were identified and each fire department agreed to participate in the smoke alarm project. Firefighters will install the donated smoke alarms in a voluntary arrangement with citizens in their area. The city of Lockhart was also added.

Each city fire department and the SFMO will keep track of where the smoke alarms have been installed so that firefighters can determine if the alarms save property or lives over the next several years.

ICT joined Insurors of Texas in providing the Waco Fire Department with approximately 1,000 First Alert smoke alarms that carry a long-life lithium battery that’s guaranteed for ten years. First Alert home safety products such as smoke alarms and fire extinguishers have been saving lives for more than 25 years.

ICT joined with the Miller and Miller Insurance Agency in providing the New Braunfels Fire Department with 1,000 smoke alarms. ICT joined First Alert in providing the Lockhart Fire Department with 350 smoke alarms.

This is the first year of the We’re Out to Alarm Texas project. ICT’s Mark Hanna said he hopes the project grows.

“This project relies heavily on the assistance of firefighters who can reach those in need and install the smoke alarms,” Hanna said. “If we save one life or prevent one home from burning down, I would like to say the project has been a success.”

ICT is a state insurance trade organization comprised of more than 500 insurance companies that sell auto and homeowners insurance in Texas.