The Honolulu Fire Department will partner with community groups to install smoke alarms at the homes of elderly residents in Papakolea on Wednesday. The Honolulu Fire Department's Smoke Alarm Installation Program was implemented last year to help reduce the home fire death rate among seniors. National statistics show the death rate of home fires for people over age 65 is nearly twice the national average, almost triple for those over 75, and quadruple for those 85 and older.

Six hundred smoke alarms were installed at elderly homes last year through the program.

Members from Kula no na Poe Hawaii, Kalawahine Streamside Association and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands will help assemble and install the alarms at 25 homes in Papakolea and Kewalo.