Officials recommend smoke alarms in every bedroom

“Without a working smoke detector, the significance of losing your life in a fire is greatly increased”, said Bona.

Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. Houses built after 2014 are required to have a smoke alarm in every bedroom, located on every storey, and outside all sleeping areas.

In Massachusetts, more than 20 percent of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms, according to the State Fire Marshal’s Office. “In the event of a fire, working smoke alarms give people the time needed to escape safely”.

Current building codes require smoke alarms in each bedroom, but many older homes have smoke alarms only in the hallway outside the bedrooms. Call 870-730-2048 and the fire department will set up a time to visit the residence and install a smoke detector. Newsplex reports that Charlottesville and Albemarle County firefighters will be teaching fire safety lessons to kids across the country.

Just hold down the test button on the smoke alarm. Go to your outside meeting place.

This year, Fire Prevention Week will be October 4 to October 10.

As a member of the Helena Fire Department for 24 years, I’ve seen the devastating effects of fire: burn injuries, loss of possessions, loss of homes and the tragic loss of life. Smoke alarms should be at least 10 feet from the stove.

Fire Prevention Week began Sunday and ends Saturday. If you test the alarm and can’t hear it, consider getting a strobe light that will flash or a bed shaker that will shake when the smoke alarm sounds.

In order to reach as many residents as possible and to ensure they know about fire safety, three local fire departments are kicking off Fire Prevention Week with the 1st annual Fire Prevention Day.