Fire safety takes center stage this week

Smoke alarms that last 10 years are being added to the arsenal of safety tools to alert residents to fires, officials said this week in promoting fire prevention.

Local fire departments are presenting activities and joining with the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York to inform residents about fire prevention and safety measures, including the introduction of advanced smoke-detecting devices. Exit plans and fire extinguishers are among other safety tools to maintain, officials said.

Fire Prevention week is Oct. 9 to 15, and this year’s theme “Don’t wait — check the date!” promotes the importance of replacing smoke alarms every 10 years.

However, beginning Jan. 1, in New York, the sale of smoke-detecting devices powered by removable, replaceable batteries will be prohibited, according to a FASNY media release. Instead, retailers will be able to sell only smoke-detecting devices with a power source that isn’t removable and lasts at least a decade.

Oneonta Fire Chief Patrick Pidgeon said the introduction of devices that last 10 years is “fantastic.” By installing the alarms, property owners won’t have to remember every six months or year to change batteries, he said.

Arthur Klingler Jr., assistant coordinator in the Otsego County Office of Emergency Services, said the devices also will prevent the “borrowing” of batteries from smoke detectors to use elsewhere, a practice that sometimes leaves detectors without batteries.

Steve Hood, director of emergency services for Delaware County, agreed that availability of the longer-lasting detector “is definitely a good thing,” but he also cautioned consumers.

“It doesn’t alleviate that you should test your alarm every six months,” Hood said.

In Delaware County, many fire departments are visiting schools so that crews can teach students about fire and its dangers, Hood said. Reiterating lessons is a valuable practice as pupils grow, he said, and a revived message being shared is that bedroom doors should be closed in to prevent fire from spreading.

Statistics show that three out of five U.S. home fire deaths occur in residences without smoke detectors or working alarms, according to FASNY. Homes with battery-disabled smoke alarms or alarms that have outlasted their full functionality put people at increased risk in the event of a home fire.

Under state law, all homes and businesses must have working smoke detectors, FASNY officials said. Smoke detectors with a 10-year lifespan are already on the market, they said, and most are powered by lithium batteries, not a traditional 9-volt battery.

Increased availability of extended-life batteries and new tamper-resistant smoke detectors are expected to help individuals and families better protect themselves and their loved ones from fires, the FASNY release said. Existing devices already in homes will be allowed to remain until they stop functioning, officials said, and smoke detectors with replaceable batteries will continue to be on sale in the state through the end of the year.

“Functioning smoke alarms reduce by half the risk of dying in a home fire, so it is extremely important to make sure they’re working properly,” said FASNY President Kenneth Pienkowski in the release.

Pidgeon said that between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, the Oneonta Fire Department has responded to 46 fire incidents, including 18 building fires and 28 other types, such as car fires. No deaths occurred but two civilians were injured, he said.

Fire prevention activities and lessons will continue throughout October, which is Fire Prevention Month.

Pidgeon said next week crews will visit Oneonta’s elementary school classes to give lessons to different age groups. Firefighters also will visit some businesses, he said, and crews will give tours of the fire station, among activities that are planned into November.

Pidgeon said an important safety tool for adults to remember is to call 911 if a blaze is suspected or appears. He said embarrassment about calling for help or other hesitation will delay assistance from firefighters trained to put out the conflagration.

FASNY, along with firefighters across the state and safety advocates nationwide, also issued reminders to have at least one smoke alarm on each floor, including the basement, and in every bedroom and outside each sleeping area.