Strobe fire alarms aid the deaf

COUNCIL BLUFFS — The high-pitched squeal of a smoke alarm can make the sturdiest among us jump.

Whether the toast has burned or there is a more serious threat, the sound of a smoke alarm protects life and property from the potential ravages of fire.

Through Project Alex and the 100 Year - 100% campaign, the Council Bluffs Fire Department and the Iowa State Fire Marshal's Office have been working to ensure that every resident has at least one working smoke detector in the home.

But what if a resident in the home can't hear the alarm? Conventional smoke alarms can't address the needs of people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

The Fire Department and the Fire Marshal's Office teamed up Friday to help the first of nine Council Bluffs families receive strobe smoke alarms. The six alarms that were installed use flashing strobe lights to alert residents to danger.

Assistant Fire Chief Matt Thomas said the home of Darlene and Daniel Case was selected because both the Cases are deaf, as are Darlene's parents, Raymond and Marlene Morris, who also live at the home.

The Cases' two children, Faith and Rex, can hear, but Marlene Morris said she worried about her grandchildren's safety before the strobes were installed.

"We don't want to have to depend on the children to listen for us," she said.

Bluffs Electric owner John Brugenhemke volunteered his time to the job.

Dan Wood of the Iowa State Fire Marshal's Office also was on hand to assist.

Wood said his office has set a goal to have 100 percent of the residences in the state have smoke alarms. The state program started around the same time Byers kicked off Project Alex.

"Their program really coincided with our big push," Thomas said.

Wood said the Council Bluffs Fire Department's program has been a model for the state.

"We have used Council Bluffs as an example to a lot of other towns; they are a great example of what everyone needs to do," Wood said. "This is a model community and fire department."

The Council Bluffs Fire Department has installed or given away about 2,000 traditional smoke alarms since last September under Project Alex.

Fire Chief Alan Byers started Project Alex the day after a fire claimed the life of 7-year-old Alex Buzzetta. The home where he died had no working smoke detectors.

Byers said he recently discovered several deaf residents who did not have access to strobe smoke alarm equipment.

So the mission grew.