Spokane Fire stresses importance of working smoke detectors

AC Brian Schaeffer #509-625-7002

Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at 2:15 p.m.

During the last week of National Fire Prevention Month, the Spokane Fire Department (SFD) would like to remind residents of the importance of having working smoke detectors in their home and the importance of maintaining those detectors to ensure they are in good working order.

In a fire, working smoke alarms in a home can mean the difference between life and death. “Smoke alarms that are properly installed and maintained provide an early warning signal which could allow everyone in the home to safely escape,” advises SFD Fire Marshal Mike Miller. “With October being National Fire Prevention Month it is the perfect time to check on the age and condition of your smoke alarms.”

Checklist for your smoke detector:

  • Have at least one detector on every level of your home.
  • Have a detector outside every sleeping area and inside every bedroom.
  • Check the back label on each detector to know the date of manufacture. Make sure no detector in your home is more than 10 years old.
  • Look for “ionization” or “photoelectric” or “photo-ion” on the back label of each detector. Make sure you know the type of detectors you have!
  • Have at least one photoelectric detector on each level of the home.
  • Check if your detectors have “hush buttons” so you don’t ever have to remove a battery to silence a nuisance alarm.
  • Check if your detectors have lithium batteries so you don’t have to replace the 9-volt batteries every year. Lithium batteries will last the life of the smoke detector.
  • Test all of your detectors on the first day of every month to make sure they are still working!

Residents wanting more information on smoke alarms or fire safety can contact the SFD’s Fire Prevention Bureau at 509.625.7058. A variety of community education resources are also available to help meet the needs of both children and adults. Fire safety presentations can be arranged for neighborhood, business, civic, or education groups.