Fire safety investigation focuses on smoke alarms

Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms are an effective safety tool in the event of a fire at a home or business, authorities say.

“If you have a working smoke alarm then that is going to give you at least three minutes to get to safety,” said Sunny Smaldino, a community education and outreach supervisor at the Colorado Springs Fire Department.

A home fire was reported every 86 seconds in the United States in 2015, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Three out of every five home fire deaths occurred in homes with either no smoke alarms or with defective smoke alarms.

The Colorado Springs Fire Department recommends having at least one smoke alarm on each level of a house, and one inside and outside a bedroom if possible. The devices should be UL listed, and placed about 3 feet from the wall. Firefighters also encourage homeowners with children to train them to recognize the sound of the smoke alarm.

“Maybe putting them to bed at eight or nine, waiting an hour for them to fall into a good sleep and then doing a family drill by setting off that smoke alarm and seeing what they do and how they react to that,” said Smaldino.

Smoke alarms can cost between $5 and $100, although homeowners do not have to spend a lot of money to keep their homes safe.

“A working smoke alarm is going to be better than nothing at all,” said Smaldino. “So if all you’ve got is $15, go buy three $5 dollar alarms and put them up.”

Many smoke alarms will be effective for 10 years, although the National Fire Protection Association recommends testing them at least once a month.