Smoke Detectors

Fire is a deadly threat to any household. It can strike anywhere, at any time. The frightening truth is that residential fires are now occurring at an estimated rate of 2.6 million per year in the U.S. You must be prepared- you need a warning and a weapon for total fire protection!

Smoke detectors provide warning. Smoke detectors are the easiest, most cost-efficient way to alert your family of a developing fire. The more smoke detectors you have installed in your home, the more your chances increase that you will survive the fire.

What do I need to know about fire?

Fire can and might happen to you! You must be prepared and have the knowledge to escape safely. Fire is darker, smokier, hotter, and faster than you can imagine. You must know what fire is like in order to escape the danger safely. The following are four important facts to remember:

1. Fire is dark. Most people expect fire to be light. On the contrary, fire is pitch black. For this reason, people get trapped in their homes because they could not find their way out in the dark- they didn’t have a rechargeable flashlight and didn’t practice an escape plan.

2. Smoke kills not flames. Since most fire fatalities occur between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. - when most people are sleeping- the only thing standing between the deadly fumes of fire and a safe escape is the piercing sound of a smoke detector. The poisonous gases emitted by a fire actually put people into a deeper sleep and many suffocate without ever waking or even becoming aware of the fire. They die of smoke inhalation because they had no warning.

3. Fire has intense heat. Fire can cause the temperature to rise several hundred degrees in just seconds. The heat is so intense that it can cause the human body to stop functioning altogether - one breath can cause severe lung damage. The heat alone can cause someone to become unconscious and not be able to escape.

4. There is no time. A residential home can be totally consumed in flames in less than five minutes from the start of a fire! There is no time to waste. You must know what to do and you must get out. A closed door is often the best way to stall a fire. By closing the door, you may save yourself valuable seconds to use an alternate escape route.

I have one smoke detector in my home. Is that enough protection against fire?

No, several smoke detectors must be installed and maintained for proper fire protection. Smoke detectors must be installed on every living level of the home, inside every bedroom, and in the main corridor outside each bedroom.

Installing and maintaining smoke detectors dramatically increase your family’s chances of surviving a fire.

For additonal information on smoke detectors and general fire safety, call the Peninsula Fire District at 530-259-2306