Community Safety
Tips and resources to help keep you, your family, and your property safe.
Smoke Alarms
- Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms, and outside sleeping areas.
- Test smoke alarms monthly by pressing the test button.
- Replace batteries at least once a year, or when the alarm chirps indicating a low battery.
- Replace smoke alarms every 10 years. Check the manufacture date on the back of the unit.
- Interconnected alarms are recommended — when one sounds, they all sound.
- Never disable a smoke alarm, even temporarily while cooking. Use the hush button instead.
- Need alarms? We install them free for eligible homes through the Be Alarmed! program.
Carbon Monoxide Safety
- Install CO detectors on every level of your home and near sleeping areas.
- Never run generators, grills, or gas-powered equipment indoors or in enclosed spaces.
- Have fuel-burning appliances (furnace, water heater, fireplace) inspected annually.
- Never warm up a vehicle in an attached garage, even with the door open.
- Know the symptoms: headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, and weakness. CO is odorless and colorless.
- If your CO alarm sounds, get everyone outside immediately and call 911.
Severe Weather Preparedness
- Have a plan for where your family will shelter during a tornado warning — ideally a basement or interior room on the lowest floor.
- Keep an emergency kit with water, flashlight, batteries, first aid supplies, medications, and important documents.
- Sign up for weather alerts through your phone or a NOAA weather radio.
- Know the difference: a watch means conditions are possible; a warning means a threat has been detected — take action immediately.
- Have a plan for communicating with family members if you are separated during an emergency.
- Keep trees and branches trimmed near your home to reduce storm damage risk.
Home Fire Escape Planning
- Draw a map of your home showing two ways out of every room.
- Choose an outside meeting place a safe distance from your home where everyone will gather.
- Practice your escape plan at least twice a year, including at night.
- Teach children to escape on their own in case you cannot help them.
- If you encounter smoke, get low and crawl under it to your exit.
- Once you are out, stay out. Never go back inside a burning building. Call 911 from outside.
- If you cannot escape, close the door, seal gaps with a towel or clothing, and signal from a window.
Open Burning Safety
- Always notify the fire district at least 24 hours before any open burn.
- Never burn trash, construction materials, tires, plastics, or painted/treated wood.
- Keep fires at least 50 feet from structures and vehicles, and 20 feet from roadways.
- A competent adult must attend the fire at all times with a means of extinguishment readily available.
- Do not burn during high winds, red flag warnings, or drought conditions.
- Check the current burn status on our Open Burning page before you burn.
Lithium-Ion Battery Safety
- Only use the charger that came with your device or one approved by the manufacturer.
- Do not charge devices on soft surfaces like beds, couches, or pillows — they can trap heat.
- Stop using any device or battery that is swollen, damaged, overheating, or emitting an unusual odor.
- Do not leave batteries or devices charging unattended overnight.
- Store batteries and devices away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures.
- Never throw lithium-ion batteries in the trash. Use designated recycling or hazardous waste drop-off locations.
- E-bikes and e-scooters are a growing fire risk — charge them in well-ventilated areas away from exit paths.
Knox Box Program
- A Knox Box is a secure, wall-mounted safe that holds building keys for fire department access during emergencies.
- Knox Boxes allow firefighters to enter your property quickly without forced entry, reducing damage and improving response time.
- Knox Boxes are commonly used on commercial buildings, gated communities, and properties with specialized access.
- Only the fire department has the master key to open Knox Boxes in the district.
- Contact the district at (217) 566-3311 for information about obtaining a Knox Box for your property.
The information on this page is provided for general public education purposes. Requirements and regulations may vary. Contact the Williamsville Fire Protection District at (217) 566-3311 or your local authority for current requirements specific to your situation.