There were also two detectors in the home that didn’t work.

The crew made quick work of installing new ones. When they left 15 minutes later, everyone in the home was well-protected.

Badger Fire Department Chief Jeff Brundige said the campaign was inspired by the beginning of the heating season and his department’s desire to keep Badger residents safe.

“You see on the news people dying in house fires in homes that have no active smoke detectors,” he said. “We don’t want that. We don’t want to see that.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Badger firefighter Chad Swanson and his son, Cole, 3, approach a home to see if their smoke detectors are working properly Saturday morning during a smoke detector blitz.

The blitz began last week when firefighters went door to door hanging flyers on doors to promote the event.

This weekend, with brand-new smoke detectors, fresh batteries and tools, the crew went door to door.

Brundige said the smoke detectors are supplied by the American Red Cross.

“They supply everything but the manpower,” he said.

The crews were prepared to help residents regardless of what state their smoke detectors are in. Many residents reported that theirs work, have fresh batteries and all is in order.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
As Badger firefighter Matt McClellan leaves a flyer on the door, Fire Chief Jeff Brundige prepares to move on to the next home during a smoke detector blitz Saturday morning. Kiley Swanson, 6, and her brother, Cole Swanson, came along to help their dad, firefighter Chad Swanson.

“We’ll check the batteries for them too,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be a complete installation. We just want to make sure they’re working.”

Melodie Passow was among the residents in Badger that got a new smoke detector to replace one that wasn’t functioning.

“I’m glad,” she said as she watched several firefighters installing a new one. “Now we have one that does work.”