Smoke, carbon detectors vital to safety

Olean Fire Department willing to help with installation

Despite the fact an Olean renter had a smoke detector installed in his apartment, he had to make a hasty exit to escape serious injury from a fire a few weeks ago.

He had no warning of the fire because the smoke detector wasn’t working, said Olean Fire Department Chief Robert Bell.

It’s a vivid reminder of how quickly a life-threatening fire can spread with no warning if a smoke/carbon monoxide detector isn’t functioning properly.

“That’s usually how we find out someone doesn’t have a working smoke/carbon monoxide detector. We get a call and have to respond,” Bell said.

“Too many homes — without detectors or mistakenly relying on non-working smoke alarms — are putting families in avoidable peril,” said Kenneth Pienkowski, president of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York.

As the home-heating season begins, fire departments typically respond to more calls.

Either blazes or ambulance calls for medical emergencies are how fire departments discover a home or apartment doesn’t have a functioning smoke/carbon monoxide detector.

“Whenever we’re called to a home — for any reason — we check to see if their detector is working,” said Bell.

The fire chief reminded residents they need to have carbon monoxide detectors as well. He alluded to the state’s Amanda’s Law, passed in 2010 which requires homes to have at least one carbon monoxide detector. In existing homes constructed prior to Jan. 1, 2008, battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors are acceptable and not required to be interconnected. Homes built after that date should already have hard-wired, interconnected systems, as required by law.

The Olean Fire Department wants to ensure everyone has a working smoke/carbon monoxide detector.

“If anybody has problems installing one, we’re happy to install it or replace old batteries. Just give us a call,” said Bell.

“An alarm is designed to get you out of the building early — and then call us,” Bell said.

Early detection is vital to saving lives and limiting structure damage, he said.

According to a study by the National Fire Protection Association, there were 365,500 home fires in 2015, three out of five home fire deaths occurred without working smoke alarms and 43 percent of home fires start in the kitchen.

Here are some potentially life-saving tips:

• Test detectors at least once a month by using the test button;
• Check the batteries every six months, and change them every year, if applicable. If a battery is starting to lose its power, the unit will usually chirp to warn you. Do not disable the unit;
• When possible, outfit your home with detectors and alarms equipped with sealed-in, 10-year lithium batteries that last the lifetime of the devices;
• Vacuum or blow out any dust that might accumulate in the unit;
• Never borrow a battery from a detector to use somewhere else;
• Never paint a smoke or carbon monoxide detector;
• Install at least one smoke alarm on every floor of your home, including the basement, in every bedroom and near every sleeping area;
• Smoke detectors should not be installed near a window because drafts could interfere with their operation;
• Smoke detectors should be completely replaced every 10 years; and
• Families should also develop and practice a home fire escape plan.

For more information on smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and other information on fire safety and prevention, visit www.fasny.com and www.nfpa.org.