A group of about 100 volunteers dispersed throughout University Park last weekend and left informational door hangers at local residences as a part of the city’s smoke alarm awareness campaign.

In two hours, beginning at 8 a.m. on Oct. 13, the volunteers distributed about 5,000 door hangers, which contained smoke alarm installation and maintenance information, to encourage local residents to make sure that their homes are properly equipped with smoke alarms and that the units are functioning properly.

Randy Howell, the fire chief for the City of University Park, said that the event’s participants, which included Boy Scouts, the UP Youth Advisory Commission, the Community Emergency Response Team and UP Fire Department employees, placed hangers on a majority of the city’s residences with an emphasis on multi-family dwellings.

“We had a huge representation,” Howell said. “It was a great turnout.”

The door hangers had information that reminded residents to make sure there are smoke alarms in every sleeping area of their homes and to test the alarms monthly, according to the City of University Park’s website.

Another purpose of the event was to help inform University Park residents that the city’s fire department can assist residents with installing smoke detectors and replacing batteries in smoke detectors, Howell said.

"We will come to your home and install smoke detectors and replace batteries at no charge," Howell said.