CLINTON — Clinton Fire Department is currently conducting smoke alarm checks of every home in the city and the fire district. 

With the program, “Fire Safety City Sweep,” the department will come to homes and ensure there is a working smoke detector. If there is not, the department will provide one to you. 

The detectors are funded through a grant from the Illinois Fire Marshal’s Office at no cost to the department. Last month, Illinois Fire Marshal’s Office reported 21 civilian deaths and another 21 civilian injuries from house fires in Illinois. 

“The feeling a firefighter gets when he is working a house fire in which all occupants got out safely due to the efforts of our department providing a smoke detector is indescribable,” said Blake West, of the Clinton Fire Department 

The Clinton Fire Department also is accepting donations to help in the department’s effort to build the Clinton Fire Department training facility. The building will be state-of-the-art built by CFD volunteers that will allow training in real life firefighting evolutions and will attract firefighters from other communities for training and benefit the city property owners with their property insurance premiums. 

In addition, Donnie Rhoades recently celebrated 31 years as a volunteer with the Clinton Fire Department. Donnie is a licensed First Responder from the Illinois Department of Public Health and a Certified Engineer and Firefighter II from the Illinois Fire Marshal’s Office.