Fresno, CA (March 7, 2008) – Fresno City firefighters are reminding area residents with daylight saving time beginning at 2 a.m. Sunday, this weekend is a good time to replace batteries in smoke alarms. The Fresno City Fire Department suggests that smoke alarms be installed inside every room of your home, except the kitchen and on every level of your home. The department also encourages people to test their smoke alarms every month and to regularly clean cobwebs and dust away from the devices.
Smoke alarms play a vital role in reducing deaths and injuries from fire and have contributed to the almost 50% decrease in fire deaths since the late 1970s. It is estimated that 95% of U.S homes have at least one smoke alarm. Sixty-five percent of reported home fire deaths occurred in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms save lives and protect against injury and loss due to fire.
Facts, Figures, & Tips:
• A 2004 telephone survey found that 96% of U.S. households had at least one smoke alarm, yet in 2000-2004, no smoke alarms were present or none operated in almost half (46%) of the reported home fires.
• An estimated 890 lives could be saved each year if all homes had working smoke alarms.
• 65% of reported home fire deaths in 2000-2004 resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
• The fire death rate in homes with working smoke alarms is 51% less than the rate for homes without this protection.
• In one out of every five homes equipped with at least one smoke alarm installed, not a single one was working.
• Why do smoke alarms fail? Most often because of missing, disconnected or dead batteries. Nuisance activations were the leading cause of disabled smoke alarms.
• Never "borrow" a battery from a smoke alarm. Smoke alarms can't warn you of fire if their batteries are missing or have been disconnected.
• Don't disable smoke alarms even temporarily. If your smoke alarm is sounding "nuisance alarms," try relocating it farther from kitchens or bathrooms, where cooking fumes and steam can cause the alarm to sound.
• Smoke alarms don't last forever. Replace yours once every 10 years. If you can't remember how old the alarm is, then it's probably time for a new one.
• Plan regular to ensure that everyone knows exactly what to do when the smoke alarm.

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