Southern Illinois University is teaming with local fire professionals to help get the word out about the state’s new 10-year smoke detector law. The announcement was made from the SIU student center yesterday afternoon to get the word out in southern Illinois about the change. In 2017, there were 114 residential fire deaths in Illinois and there have been 90 fatalities so far in 2018. The Illinois General Assembly passed a law to address this issue by requiring Illinois residents to replace their old smoke detectors over the next few years with the type that use a long-term, 10-year sealed battery. First Alert is donating installation kits and alarms to the Carbondale Fire Department, who can assist local residents with installations.