Fire department honors Milan student for his smoke alarm project

(MILAN, Ind.) – The Milan Fire Department is recognizing a teenager for making a life-saving difference in the community. 

Wil Wheeler is a Milan sophomore who approached the department a few years ago with an idea he calls the Bee Alarmed Project.

His goal was to raise funds to buy smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and give them out to 150 local households. 

Milan Fire Chief Rod Johnson embraced the idea and he and Wheeler worked together to make it a reality. 

Some organizations that donated to the project included Global Atlantic, Stedman Machine Company, Merrilees Hardware and Supply and the Milan American Legion.

On Saturday, the department hosted their annual fried chicken dinner when Wheeler was presented with a plaque . 

“Wil raised enough money to buy 150 smoke detectors that have been dispersed to seven different counties and every fire department in Ripley County,” Johnson said. 

“The first time that the Milan Fire Department goes to a house fire where somebody got out because of one of Wil’s smoke detectors, after we leave the scene we are going straight to Wil’s house with lights and sirens to let them know,” Johnson added. 

Wil also presented the fire department with a special gift on Saturday as well.