SMOKE ALARM REPLACEMENT

“Almost three out of five home fire deaths in 2012-2016 were caused by fires in properties with no smoke alarms (40%) or smoke alarms that failed to operate (17%)” (Ahrens, 2019) It’s a proven fact,  smoke alarms save lives. Early notification of a fire in your home gives you the best chance of getting out alive. Properly installed smoke alarms are critical in reducing fire deaths and injuries. Fire doubles in size every 30 seconds and most people simply do not realize how fast fire grows, and how quickly the smoke travels throughout the home. Watch this National Fire Protection Association video on how fire spreads https://youtu.be/9JU59Nsv2vg

 Important To Know:

• Smoke alarms are required in every bedroom and in the hallway outside the bedrooms
• Interconnected hard-wired smoke alarms are installed in most homes and when one device senses smoke and trips the alarm, all of the smoke alarms in the home will sound at the same time. If you install regular battery-powered alarms, you must be diligent when it comes to changing the batteries. Changing the batteries when your change the clocks is a good way to remind you of when it is time to change the batteries. If a smoke alarm begins to chirp, that too is a reminder that the battery needs to be replaced.
• All smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years
• Closing bedroom doors will slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire so Close Before You Doze (Kerber, 2018)

Smoke Alarms Tips: Smoke Alarms

What to do if your Smoke Alarm goes off:

• If the smoke alarms in your home or business are going off and you are unsure of the reason, please evacuate the building immediately and call 911.
• If you require assistance with a chirping smoke alarm, please call us at 817-743-4400. If no one answers, please leave your name and number and someone will return your call. If you leave a message on a Saturday or Sunday, please understand that our offices are closed on the weekend and your call will be returned on Monday.

What We Can Do:

Keller Fire-Rescue will provide qualified citizens with smoke alarms. Please use the following information to determine if you meet the qualifications for assistance:

• Keller Fire-Rescue will assist with smoke alarms and battery replacement for persons who are elderly or disabled
• Free smoke alarms will be installed in the homes of persons who are financially unable to purchase smoke alarms.
• If your smoke alarms are hard-wired, we can only change the batteries in these devices. We cannot perform any electrical work associated with home’s wiring.

If you need assistance but do not meet these qualifications noted above, we ask that you contact a licensed electrician or handy man to assist you with your smoke alarm needs.