The Rockford Fire Department announced a new smoke detector law has been passed in coordination with National Fire Prevention Week. The law will require people who live in a household or apartment built before 1988 to install a smoke detector with a 10-year sealed battery. Officials say there was a need for new smoke detectors with more than 200 residential fire deaths having occurred in Illinois since 2017. First Alert will donate installation kits and alarms to the Rockford Fire Department to assist local residents with installations. The Rockford Fire Department also partnered with Illinois Fire Safety Alliance, State Sen. Steve Stadelman and the Winnebago County Health Department to pass the new law. The Illinois Smoke Detector Act has required all households and apartments to have smoke detectors since 1988.