IFD offers smoke detectors for deaf and hearing impaired

An Indianapolis apartment building fire hospitalized more than a dozen people this week.

The building included two units with several people in them that are deaf or hearing impaired. The Indianapolis Fire Department said those apartments didn't have alarms for the deaf community.

It is not required for a property owner of a multi-family building to install special hearing-impaired smoke alarms.

However, IFD fire marshal Chief Mike Beard said the department will provide and install them.

“One fire alarm that can connect to up to two bed shakers, so by Bluetooth this alarm will contact both a stroke and a bed shaker that is at the bed for the person that is hearing impaired,” Beard said.

There is also an audible side to the alarm.

“By us coming in and installing for the hearing impaired, for any resident not hearing impaired in the home, they will get the audio,” Beard added.

IFD has installed 12 hearing impaired smoke alarms in the past week.

Smoke alarms for the deaf or hearing impaired may be requested on the IFD indy.gov website.

The IFD Fire and Life Safety Division will work with residents and apartment management to ensure proper installation.

No serious injuries were reported in the apartment fire at the Pangea Apartments on Wednesday. Twelve units were impacted by the blaze.

Contact reporter Taylor Bennett at tbennett@wfyi.org. Follow on Twitter: @TaylorB2213.