More than 34,000 smoke alarms will be provided to residents statewide who need them, thanks to a donation by Lowe's and the efforts of the state Fire Marshall's Office "Save-A-Life" program.

The program works with local fire departments and districts to get smoke alarms in the homes of vulnerable residents and also provides free installation.

"This is going to save someone's life," State Fire Marshal Bryan Adams said at a press conference at a Lowe's store in Slidell last week that kicked off the distribution effort.

Lowe's first offered the donation to St. Tammany Fire Protection District 1, which contacted the State Fire Marshal's Office to collaborate on a statewide distribution. A Lowe's employee who is a former firefighter was instrumental in the collaboration, officials said.

Area fire departments will be collecting the donated smoke alarms at sites throughout the state, to get to residents.

In Baton Rouge, the distribution was made Thursday, Dec. 19, at the Louisiana Fire and Emergency Training Academy on Nicholson Drive.

The donation by Lowe's, a value of more than $1 million, makes the largest inventory boost in the Save-A-Life program's 12-year history, the State Fire Marshall's Office said.

Over those 12 years, more than 120,00 smoke alarms have been distributed through local fire departments, Adams said.

"Even with all those smoke alarms that we have distributed, 65 percent of homes in Louisiana still do not have a working smoke alarm," he said.

"This is going to make a difference," Adams said.

To register for a free smoke alarm or learn more about Operation Save-A-Life, visit lasfm.org.

Baton Rouge residents can also sign up for a smoke alarm installation at https://www.communityconnect.io/info/la-batonrouge.

"Every second counts in the event of a fire, and having working smoke alarms in your home is one of the simplest and most effective ways to stay safe," the Baton Rouge Fire Department said in a news release.