Each year approximately 5,000 people in the United States lose their lives in house fires. Homes account for more than 90% of all fire deaths. 85 to 90% of U.S. households have smoke detectors. one third of them are non-operational. More than half of fatal home fires strike at night when households are asleep. The sooner a sleeping person wakes up and begins to react, the greater his or her chances are of surviving the fire. Inexpensive smoke alarms can cut your risk of dying in a fire in half and automatic fire sprinkler systems can contain or extinguish a fire - protecting your property, reducing smoke and toxic fumes, and giving you more time to escape safely.

Installation - To install most battery-operated smoke alarms, all you need are a screwdriver and a drill. Follow the manufacturer's installation instruction and be sure your alarms are securely in place. Some smoke alarms operate on household current. An alarm that plugs into an electrical outlet must be installed with a restaining device so the plug canot be pulled out by mistake. Alarms can be hardwired directly into your home's electrical system. Hard-wired installations should be done by a qualified electrician. Never hard-wire an alarm into a circuit that can be turned ff by a wall switch. In order for the warning of a smoke alarm to be effective, the alarm must be installed in a location where it can function properly and be heard by the people it is intended to protect.

Proper Location - One detector should be installed outside each sleeping area, one on each habitable story, and one in the basement. Do not install detectors in kitchens, bathrooms, or garages unless they are designed specifically for those applications. Ceiling-mounted alarms should be placed at least 4-inches from any wall. If a room has a pitched ceiling, mount the unit at or near the ceiling's highest point. Wall-mounted alarms should be installed so that the top of the alarm is 4 to 12 inches from the ceiling. Alarms should be installed at least 3 feet from heating and air conditioning vents. No location is a good location if the detector does not operate. Regular testing and maintenance ensure that your smoke detectors are on the job. Smoke detectors should be on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a weeks, 365 days a year.

Maintenance

Monthly - Check the battery and check the unit for dust. Test your smoke alarms at least once a month, following the manufacturer's instructions. It only takes a moment to test a smoke alarm that could save your life. Yearly - Replace batteries according to the manufacturer's recommendations or at least once a year. Every 10 years replace with a new detector, or if your alarm is performing erratically it should be replaced. Clean your smoke alarm at least twice a year, using a vacuum cleaner, to remove cobwebs and dust than can degrade the unit's sensitivity. Never paint any part of a smoke alarm.

Inquiring About a Fire Report

A fire report can be obtained by filling out the request form provided. It can be printed out, Faxed or Emailed . There is a $5.00 fee for each report. Make checks payable to: City of Montgomery.

Montgomery Fire/Rescue