Bloomington Fire Department Reminds Residents of New Smoke Alarm Recommendations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2010

For more information, please contact:
Scott Smith, Fire Prevention Officer, City of Bloomington, 349.3888, smiths@bloomington.in.gov
Jared Schlemmer, Assistant Deputy Mayor, City of Bloomington, 349.3406, schlemmj@bloomington.in.gov



Bloomington, IN -- The City of Bloomington Fire Department would like to remind residents of the importance of smoke alarms by participating in this year's Fire Prevention Week campaign from Oct. 3 through Oct. 9.

In an effort to better educate communities throughout the U.S. about smoke alarm recommendations, the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA ) is promoting "Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With!" as the theme for this year's Fire Prevention Week campaign. NFPA has been the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for 88 years.

"Many homes in Bloomington and Monroe County may not have any smoke alarms, may not have enough smoke alarms, or may have alarms that are too old or dysfunctional," says Scott Smith, Fire Prevention Officer for the Fire Department. "We want residents to understand that working smoke alarms are needed in every home, on every level (including the basement), outside each sleeping area and inside each bedroom. If a smoke alarm is 10 years old or older, it needs to be replaced."

Smoke alarms can mean the difference between life and death in a fire. NFPA statistics show that working smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire nearly in half, but they must be working properly to do so. The association's data shows that many homes have smoke alarms that aren't working because of improper maintenance, usually because of missing, disconnected or dead batteries. Roughly two-thirds of all home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

To help recognize Fire Prevention Week and the entire month of October as Fire Prevention Month, the Fire Department will be hosting activities including fire station tours and school visits during October to help promote "Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With!" These activities are intended to help residents learn more about the power of smoke alarms, newer options for installing and maintaining them properly, and how to better protect their loved ones from fire.

NFPA and the City of Bloomington Fire Department recommend that all smoke alarms in a home be interconnected so that all will sound if one is triggered. This is particularly important in larger or multi-story homes, where the sound from distant smoke alarms may be reduced to the point that it may not be loud enough to provide proper warning, especially for sleeping individuals.

"Most people have a sense of complacency about smoke alarms because they already have one in their homes. Fire Prevention Week provides an excellent opportunity to re-educate people about smoke alarms, new technologies and expanded options for installation and maintenance," says Judy Comoletti, division manager for NFPA public education. "Ultimately, we want this year's campaign to serve as a call to action for households nationwide to inspect their homes and ensure that their families have the full smoke alarm protection that's recommended."

The City of Bloomington Fire Department offers the following tips for making sure smoke alarms are maintained and working properly:

• Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button, and make sure everyone in your home knows their sound.
• If an alarm "chirps," warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away.
• Replace all smoke alarms, including alarms that use 10-year batteries and hard-wired alarms, when they are 10 years old. Replace sooner f they do not respond properly when tested.
• Never remove or disable a smoke alarm.

To find out more about Fire Prevention Week programs and activities, or to schedule a tour, fire truck visit or educational session for your school or organization in Bloomington, please contact the Bloomington Fire Department at 332-9763. To learn more about "Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With!," visit NFPA's Web site at www.firepreventionweek.org.

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