Smoke Alarms Save Lives

The majority of fatal home fires happen at night while people are asleep. Contrary to popular belief, the smell of smoke may not wake a sleeping person. Inexpensive household smoke alarms sound an alarm alerting you to a fire. By giving you time to escape, working smoke alarms cut your risk of dying in a home fire nearly in half. Every home should have a smoke alarm on every level of the home, including the basement and new homes should have a smoke alarm inside each bedroom. If any residents are hearing impaired or sleep with the bedroom door closed, install additional alarms inside sleeping areas as well. During the 2013 session of the Maryland General Assembly, the thirty-eight year old Maryland Smoke Alarm Law was completely rewritten and updated to take advantage of new technology. With the full support of the Maryland Fire Service, Senate Bill 969 and House Bill 1413 passed unanimously in both chambers and have been signed into law by Governor O'Malley. The Maryland Smoke Alarm Law will now be compatible with applicable national codes including, "NFPA 72 – National Fire Alarms and Signaling Code" and the "International Residential Code" for new construction. More importantly, the law will require over the course of the next few years an upgrade in smoke alarm coverage in existing homes. Under provisions of the new law, a single 9-volt battery operated smoke alarm in the second floor hallway will no longer be adequate in some existing older homes. The Maryland Smoke Alarm Law will require a minimum of one smoke alarm on every level of the home. Where battery operated smoke alarms are acceptable, sealed battery operated smoke alarms with long life batteries and hush button features will now be required.

Over the years, many fire and rescue departments in Maryland have been actively involved in very successful smoke alarm give away/installation programs to protect the citizens of their communities. These programs have typically involved the use of smoke alarms with replaceable 9-volt batteries. In general, these devices have worked fine until the occupant activates the alarm due to burnt toast or frying bacon and quickly removes the battery to stop the alerting noise, or the annoying chirp of the low battery alarm at 3:00 a.m. results in removal of the smoke alarm battery. Dead or missing smoke alarm batteries have been an aspect in many loss of life fires and continue to be a factor in Maryland and across the United States.

For additional information, please review the Maryland Smoke Alarm Technology Task Force Report dated August 2012 online at: www.mdsp.org/firemarshal and look under the documents download tab or contact the Office of the State Fire Marshal at 410-653-8980.

Free Smoke Alarms

If you live in the Winfield Community and do not have a smoke alarm on every level of your home the Winfield VFD has a free smoke alarm program. You can contact us in writing with your name, address and phone number requesting smoke alarms, call us at 410-795-1333 x336 or email us at smokealarmprogram@winfieldvfd.org.

		Smoke Alarm FYI Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years or when the manufacturer suggests replacement. Remember to test your smoke alarms monthly, replace batteries when time changes or sooner if need be, and to vacuum them because they too can build up dust. Deaf and Hard of Hearing Devices The Fire and Burn Safety Coalition of Maryland (FABSCOM) offers free bed shakers to those that can not afford one. You must be deaf or extremely hard of hearing in order to qualify for one of these devices. This device works with a regular smoke alarm.  The request form and requirements are located on this website under the Safe Awake Request tab or visit www.fabscom.org.

Change your smoke alarm batteries!

It is recommended you change your smoke alarm batteries when you change your clock. Replace old batteries with fresh, high quality batteries to keep your smoke alarms ready to protect you all year long.

Check your smoke alarms!

After inserting fresh batteries in your smoke alarm, make sure the alarm is working by activating the safety test button. It is recommended that you test each smoke alarm in your house monthly. If you doubt the working condition of a smoke alarm, we recommend you replace it.

Clean your smoke alarms!

Help your smoke alarm remain sensitive and ready to protect you by gently using a vacuum cleaner once a month to remove dust and cobwebs. If your smoke alarms have been accidentally painted or contaminated, replacement may be necessary.

Smoke alarms work every minute of every day. After millions of sensing cycles, they should be retired. Replace your smoke alarms with new devices every 10 years or the date the manufacturer suggests.

Fact Sheet