Changing Smoke Alarms

The State Fire Marshal is urging you to make it a priority to ensure your home is equipped with working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Rich Miller says the risk of dying from a fire in a home without working smoke alarms is twice as high as in a home that has working smoke alarms. Miller says many homes still have only one smoke alarm and that’s simply enough. He says there should be working smoke alarms on every level of the home, in every bedroom and in the basement. Miller recommends buying newer models of smoke alarms with lithium batteries that will last the life of the unit. Replace all smoke alarms every 10 years or sooner if they do not respond properly when tested. Test all smoke alarms at least once a month by using the test button and replace batteries once a year.