Bonham -- Firefighters with the Bonham Fire Department will soon be installing smoke alarms into the homes of low income and elderly residents thanks to a statewide program called "We're Out to Alarm Texas."

"We started the program in 2005 to save lives and mitigate damage," stated Mark Hanna, spokesman for the Insurance Council of Texas.

The Insurance Council of Texas, along with the State Fire Marshal's Office, Farm-n-Home Casualty Agency in Bonham and First Alert, is donating the fire alarms to be installed by local firefighters.

Bonham Fire Chief Brad Nichols looks on as Mark Hanna, spokesman for Insurance Council of Texas, extols the benefits of a program that has donated more than 9,000 smoke alarms in 23 Texas cities since 2005.

State Fire Marshal Chris Connealy joined Mr. Hanna, John Farris of Farm-n-Home Casualty Agency and Bonham Mayor Pro Tem Wayne Moore to accompany Bonham firefighters Tuesday as they installed the first fire alarm supplied by this program in the home of Jimmy McKnight.

Interested homeowners in Bonham can call Bonham Fire Department at 903-583-3731.

Bonham will become one of 13 cities around the state that will receive 1,400 smoke alarms in recognition of Fire Prevention Week October 8-14. The other cities include Galveston, Farmers Branch, McKinney, Waco, Odessa, Abilene, New Braunfels, Lufkin Brazoria, Longview, El Paso and San Angelo.

The cities were chosen by the State Fire Marshal's Office because of the willingness of the fire departments to install the smoke alarms into the homes of needy citizens. The smoke alarms are installed on a first-come, first-serve basis to homeowners in each city. In addition to installing the smoke alarms, firefighters point out possibly fire hazards in each home.

State Fire Marshal Chris Connealy

"Residential fires claimed the lives of 192 Texas residents in 2011," State Fire Marshal Chris Connealy said. "Six hundred ninety-two Texans were injured by fires in 2011. With the technology available today, that shouldn't happen. Our studies indicate that 66% of all deaths caused by fires happen in residential structures."

Bonham Fire Chief Brad Nichols said he welcomes the donation.

"Smoke alarms provide early detection and that is the key to survival," stated Chief Nichols. "There is definitely a need for this program in Bonham and we already have four people on the list to have smoke alarms installed. Every home should have at least one smoke alarm and we know that these will help save the lives of Bonham residents."

In the first year alone, three elderly residents in New Braunfels and Waco were rescued by firefighters after being alerted by donated smoke alarms to fires in their smoke-filled homes.

"We are pleased to be affiliated with this effort to promote awareness and save lives throughout the state," remarked John Farris of Farm-n-Home Casualty Agency. "This is a great example of the insurance agency caring about its consumers."

(L-R) Brad Nichols, Mark Hanna, John Farris and Chris Connealy

"Saving just one live has been worth the time and effort to see that fire departments across the state have had the opportunity to install smoke alarms into the homes of the less fortunate," added Mr. Hanna. "This program has brought fire departments closer to their community and helped educate its residents to the benefits of a functioning smoke alarm."