Monroe County residents can pick up free smoke alarms this month after a joint donation from Opal Key Resort and Strunk Ace Hardware to the Key West Fire Department (KWFD). The donation, announced for Fire Prevention Month, will be distributed at Central Fire Station #1, 1600 N. Roosevelt Blvd., where Fire Marshal Jason Barroso thanked the donors and reminded residents that smoke alarms are one of the most important tools to prevent fire deaths.

The donation is intended to reach households that either lack working detectors or need replacements. Fire departments nationwide and local officials emphasize that functioning smoke alarms are a low-cost, high-impact prevention tool: studies from national fire-safety organizations show that the presence of working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in reported home fires roughly in half. For Monroe County, where many homes are older and tourism-driven rental units are common, increasing alarm coverage can reduce both human and economic costs tied to residential fires.

Distribution through KWFD’s central station provides a straightforward access point for residents. Central Fire Station #1 has been identified as the pick-up location, which is convenient for many city residents and visitors alike. Fire Marshal Barroso’s reminder underscores a simple public-safety message coupled with a practical availability solution: detectors are ready for those who need them, no purchase required.

Beyond immediate life-safety benefits, the donation has secondary economic and community implications. Replacing or installing smoke alarms reduces the likelihood of catastrophic property losses that strain homeowners, insurers and emergency services. For local businesses, participation in public-safety efforts strengthens community ties and can lower indirect costs associated with fires—such as business interruption in tourism-dependent sectors. For residents on fixed incomes, the free alarms remove a financial barrier to meeting a basic safety standard.

Officials ask residents who pick up alarms to install them promptly, check battery function regularly, and replace units according to manufacturer guidance. While this donation does not replace comprehensive safety measures—such as escape planning, regular maintenance of heating and electrical systems, and proper use of cooking equipment—it directly improves the baseline protection in homes across the county.

Residents interested in obtaining a detector should visit Central Fire Station #1 at 1600 N. Roosevelt Blvd. during normal department hours. KWFD and its donors say this is a practical step toward reducing fire fatalities and strengthening Monroe County’s overall emergency resilience during Fire Prevention Month and beyond.