Smoke Alarms

Smoke alarms are crucial to preventing, reducing, and surviving a home fire. The death rate in home structure fires is approximately 60 percent lower in homes with working smoke alarms than in homes with no alarms or none that worked.

A smoke alarm is a fire alarm that buzzes when it detects smoke, warning you in time to escape. Working smoke alarms (and carbon monoxide alarms) can provide the critical extra seconds people need to escape a tragedy. 

More than 6,000 deaths occur due to house fires each year. Most people die from smoke and toxic gas inhalation rather than the fire itself. The peak time for home fatalities is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., when most families are sleeping. Many never wake up.

Now is the time to protect your family from the tragedy by putting new batteries in your alarms!

How to Protect Your Family

Most fire deaths are preventable. To protect yourself and your family:

  • Purchase one or more smoke alarms.
  • Install your alarms properly.
  • Identify escape routes and practice escaping.
  • Maintain your alarms.
  • Test your alarms according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Smoke Alarms Save Lives

The National Fire Protection Association goes into great detail about the types of smoke alarms available and which is best for residential structures. Visit their smoke alarm information here.

Smoke alarms can be purchased at most retail stores for about $10. They should be installed on every level of a residence to increase the chances of survival should a fire occur. 

They should be installed on the ceiling or high on a wall near bedrooms. They should be installed away from air outlet vents to prevent dust accumulation. 

Battery-operated and "plug-in" electric alarms can be attached directly to the ceiling or wall.

Free Smoke Alarm Program

Through its smoke alarm installation program, the Sanford Fire Department will install free smoke alarms in any city residence. The alarms must be installed by Sanford Fire Department personnel.

The goal of this program is to reduce the number of preventable fire deaths by ensuring smoke alarms are properly installed and working in as many homes as possible.

To find out more about this program or make an appointment for an installation, call 919-777-1501.