Tonya Sneed will receive the Smoke Detector on Guard Award from the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of State Fire Marshal and the Lima Fire Department on Wednesday, June 11th. The ceremony will be held at 9:00 a.m. at the Lima Mayor David Berger's Office, 50 Town Square, Lima.

“The Smoke D.O.G. Award recognizes heroes such as Tonya who save lives by responding to the warning sound of a smoke detector,” said Donna Owens, Director of the Department of Commerce. “Like a guard dog, a smoke detector 'stands watch' over the home both day and night.”

Tonya will receive the award for her alert actions after fire broke out in her home at 337 North Jameson in Lima on May 20, 1997. Tonya awoke when her smoke detector sounded early in the morning. She quickly awakened her daughter and dialed 911 as the house filled with smoke. She also alerted her neighbor in case the fire spread. Tonya's quick thinking and the presence of a smoke detector saved both her life and her daughter's, and saved the house from major damage.

"The most effective life and property saving tool is a properly operating smoke detector, " said Lima Fire Chief John Brookman. "Smoke detectors provide an early warning which is crucial to safe and timely evacuation of a residence or other structure."

“Of the approximately 200 Ohioans who die each year from fire, half of these lives could have been saved if at least one smoke detector had been installed and maintained in the home,” said State Fire Marshal James J. McNamee. “For the greatest level of safety, a smoke detector should be placed on every level of the home and tested monthly.”

Sneed will receive the Smoke D.O.G. award certificate and a “Smoke D.O.G” t-shirt from Ron Ferguson, a fire safety educator for the Division of State Fire Marshal's Fire Prevention Bureau. Chief Brookman and the Lima Fire Department's Fire Prevention Bureau will also be on hand.

The "Smoke D.O.G." program stands for "SMOKE Detector On Guard." Like a guard dog, a smoke detector stands watch over the home both day and night. Most fatal fires occur during the night when people are sleeping and most vulnerable. The Smoke D.O.G. Award recognizes individuals whose lives were saved by reacting appropriately to the warning sound of a smoke detector.

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The Ohio Department of Commerce, led by Director Donna Owens, is one of the state's chief regulatory agencies. It works to protect Ohioans by enforcing regulations involving construction, fire codes, financial institutions, investments, real estate, and unclaimed funds.