The Great Bend Fire Department is offering and installing free smoke/carbon monoxide alarms this month, Chief Mike Napolitano said.
The department obtained the alarms through “Get Alarmed Kansas” program sponsored by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
People may ask to have alarms installed in their homes by calling GBFD Station No. 1 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. The telephone number is 793-4140.
“The GBFD can only keep a limited number of these alarms on hand,” Chief Mike Napolitano said. “They will be installed on a first come, first served basis. If the GBFD does not have enough alarms on hand to fill your request immediately, people will be placed on a waiting list.”
Requests on the waiting list will be filled as GBFD obtains more alarms and owners of rental housing may not request alarms for their tenants. The program will end on June 30.

Eligibility for free smoke/CO alarms
• Any home owner is eligible to receive an alarm at no cost.
• The recipient will need to provide the installer with an address and telephone of their home.
• The installer will then make arrangements to get the alarm installed.
• The GBFD is not able to replace an alarm for one that is already in working order.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal implemented a statewide residential smoke alarm installation program in 2014 as a fire prevention effort. “Get Alarmed Kansas” allows trained volunteers to install smoke alarms in owner-occupied homes free of charge.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, working smoke alarms are the key to saving lives from fire.
Fires can grow and spread through a home in a matter of minutes. The advance warning provided by smoke alarms can be essential to saving lives.