Fire Prevention Week Starts Today

This week is Fire Prevention Week, according to the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York.

FASNY is reminding all New Yorkers of the importance of having working smoke alarms throughout their homes. This year’s fire prevention theme from the National Fire Protection Association is “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep.” The week is an effort to ensure that people have working smoke alarms installed in their bedrooms, FASNY said.

According to the NFPA, approximately half of all fire deaths occur during the typical sleeping hours of 11 p.m. through 7 a.m. All too often, people are awaken by fire and smoke rather than the beep of a smoke alarm, and have little chance of a safe escape. The NFPA recommends having smoke alarms installed in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of a home, including the basement.

The NFPA said that two thirds of all fire deaths occur in homes without smoke alarms or working smoke alarms.

“Smoke alarms are the single most important appliance in your home,” said FASNY President Robert McConville. “Though every week is Fire Prevention Week for firefighters, we ask the public to take this time to ensure their homes are properly fitted with working smoke alarms. This is the most critical step we all can take to avoid tragedy.”

FASNY is supporting state legislation which would require that all smoke alarms sold in New York state to be equipped with sealed-in, non-removable batteries capable of powering the device for at least 10 years. The legislation has passed both the state Senate and Assembly and awaits Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s signature.

The Fire Prevention Week campaign includes the following smoke alarm precautions:

  • Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.
  • Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. This way, when one sounds, they all do.
  • Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.
  • Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or sooner if they don’t respond properly.
  • Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke alarm and understands what to do when they hear it.

To learn more about smoke alarms and “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep,” visit NFPA’s website at http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/fire-prevention-week.