On the week of the one-year anniversary of the natural gas explosion that killed an Oak Park man, legislators are stepping up efforts to push for natural-gas alarms.
At an educational event Monday, State Rep. Camille Y. Lilly gave out natural gas detectors to senior citizens.
Lilly partnered with DeNova Detect, whose headquarters are in Chicago, to give out 100 of their natural gas alarms.
“Here in Oak Park, on two different occasions, we’ve had gas explosions,” Lilly said. “Today is about providing information to homeowners around natural gas, and how it can be dangerous to your home.”
The move comes amid a national push for better safety regarding natural gas. This year, New York City became the first major city in the United States to require natural gas alarms in homes and buildings. Many are hoping Illinois will follow with the Fuel Gas Detector Act, which would require gas alarms to be installed inside buildings.
Lilly said she supports the act, although it is being revamped.
“We modeled it after New York. New York’s law had all these penalties that were initially red flags for us.” Lilly said.
Statistics show there have been 26 natural-gas explosions in the state during the past four years.
Katie Moody, an Oak Park resident who lost her father three years ago in a natural gas explosion, also attended the event to advocate for the importance of natural gas alarms.
“At the time, we had no idea that gas alarms existed. Since the accident, we’ve just made it our goal to spread awareness about gas alarms,” said Moody. “It’s such a small cost to prevent what could be such a large loss of life and property.
The home Moody’s father was staying at the time of the explosion was on an acre of land, yet the explosion was so large it still reached their neighbors house, melting their garage door.
“I always tell my neighbors that if this happened in Chicagoland, it would destroy an entire block,” Moody said.
In 2023, David Rechs, 64, of Oak Park, died the night after an explosion rocked an apartment building on the 200 block of South Maple Avenue, authorities said at the time. Twelve residents were displaced. All six apartment units within the building were deemed uninhabitable, Wednesday Journal reporting showed.
Marc Adams, managing director of DeNova Detects said that like smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, natural gas detectors are important.
DeNova Detect gave out some alarms at the event, and they will continue to work with Lilly in giving out alarms until they run out.