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Free Smoke Detectors

Very often we have free smoke detectors and replacement batteries available at the fire station for those residents who can not afford to purchase them.

Please give a call if you need one to ensure we have them available. You do need to show proof of residence to receive them. We will install new detectors and replace the batteries in detectors in your home if you are unable to do it yourself. We however cannot be responsible for any damage that may occur in the process of these installations and or battery replacements.

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SMOKE DETECTORS SAVE LIVES!

This information courtesy of the National Fire Protection Association

Smoke detectors are not new. The technology has been around since the 1960s. The single-station, battery-powered smoke detector, similar to the one we know today, became available to consumers in the 1970s. NFPA estimates that 93% of U.S. homes have at least one smoke detector. They save so many lives that most states have laws requiring them in residential dwellings.

Still a Major Problem

Although 13 of every 14 homes have at least one smoke detector, almost half of homes fires and three-fifths of all fire deaths occur in those homes with no detectors. Thousands of people still die each year in home fires where smoke detectors are not present.

In addition, there are now more homes with smoke detectors that do not work than homes with no detectors at all. These poorly maintained units create a false sense of security among occupants. Approximately one-third of homes with smoke detectors that experience fires have units that are not working. Tragically, the grave importance of installing and maintaining smoke detectors has not yet been fully realized. Most people who die in home fires are not in the room where the fire starts. Working smoke detectors alert people to the presence of fire and give them time to escape in a situation where minutes can mean the difference between life and death.

Working Smoke Detectors Save Lives

By properly installing, regularly testing and maintaining your detectors, you can decrease your chance of dying by nearly 50%. Make sure that you buy only those detectors that bear the mark of an independent testing laboratory. Some detectors operate using an "ionization" sensor while others use a "photo-electric" sensor. An ionization detector uses an extremely small quantity of radio-active material to make the air in the detector chamber conduct electricity. Smoke from a fire interferes with the electrical current and triggers the alarm. A photoelectric detector uses a tiny light source shining on a light sensitive sensor. The alarm is triggered when smoke from a fire interferes with the light. All tested and labeled smoke detectors offer adequate protection if they are properly installed and maintained.

Installation of Detectors

The majority of fire deaths occur at night when people are asleep. NFPA's National Fire Alarm Code (NFPA 72) says that homes should have a working smoke detector on each level of the home, including the basement, and outside of each sleeping area. On floors without bedrooms, smoke detectors should be installed in or near living areas, such as family rooms and living rooms. New homes are also required to have a smoke detector in each sleeping area.

In new homes, the National Fire Alarm Code requires hard-wired, interconnected detectors, so that if one detector is activated, all detectors will sound the alarm signal. Detectors that are hard-wired into the home electrical system should be installed by a qualified electrician. If your detector plugs into a wall outlet, make sure it has a restraining device to keep its plug from being pulled out. Never connect a detector to a circuit that could be turned off at a wall switch.

Since smoke and deadly gases rise, detectors should be placed on the ceiling at least 4-inches from the nearest wall, or high on a wall at least 4 to 12 inches from the ceiling. This clearance is important to keep detectors out of possible "dead-air" spaces. Do not install detectors near windows, doors or a fireplace because drafts could detour smoke away from the unit.

Recommended Maintenance

Test your detector once a month to insure operating condition.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning or protecting from dust. Do not paint a unit

Minimize "nuisance" or false alarms by cleaning regularly.

Evaluate your detector placement if false alarms persist. Cooking vapors and steam can set off a detector. Try moving the unit further away from the area.

Smoke Detectors - A Wise Investment

Contrary to popular belief, the smell of smoke may not wake a sleeping person. Instead, the poisonous gases and smoke produced by a fire can numb the senses and put one into a deeper sleep.

A battery-operated smoke detector retails for less than $10. Some detectors with extra features can cost up to $25. Batteries cost $1 to $2 depending on the brand. A hard-wired smoke detector cost $12 - $15.