[Press Release] : Lack of home smoke alarms concerning Columbia fire officials

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: Captain Eric Hartman - (573) 874-7644 Office

Lack of home smoke alarms concerning Columbia fire officials

COLUMBIA, MO (December 1, 2008) - Over the past two weeks the Columbia
Fire Department responded to two structure fires in Columbia homes that
had no smoke alarms present, or were found by fire department personnel
to be inoperable. A review of Columbia Fire Department records since
Jan. 1 highlighted a dangerous trend; over half of the home fires
reported in Columbia this year have occurred in homes with either
nonworking smoke alarms or no alarms at all. Columbia firefighters have
responded to 77 structure fire calls where a fire event of varying
severity had occurred within the structure; of those, 39 (51 percent)
occurred in homes without an operating smoke alarm.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, 65 percent of
reported home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke
alarms or nonworking smoke alarms; and 73 percent of smoke alarms which
fail to operate during a fire are caused by missing, disconnected, dead
or discharged batteries. Residents are reminded that they may have less
than three minutes to escape a home fire, which becomes critical at
night. Working smoke alarms provide early warning, especially if you are
asleep. Your risk of death in a fire is reduced by 50 percent if you
have a properly working smoke alarm. SMOKE ALARMS SAVE LIVES!

As a result, the Columbia Fire Department is working in conjunction
with the Columbia Professional Fire Fighters Local 1055 to distribute
smoke alarms to Columbia residents at no cost. The goal is to ensure
that every home in Columbia has a working smoke alarm. Free smoke alarms
are available to city of Columbia homeowners by coming to the Columbia
Fire Department Fire Marshal's Division at 201 Orr Street, or by
contacting the Columbia Professional Fire Fighters Local 1055 at (573)
823-6942.

Homeowners can also receive assistance installing and testing their
alarms upon request of either organization.

Homeowners with smoke alarms already installed are reminded of the
following guidelines to ensure their alarms are maintained in
operational condition.
● Batteries should be replaced annually.
● Smoke alarms should be tested monthly.
● Alarms should be replaced every 10 years, regardless of
functionality or condition.
● Plan and practice a family fire escape plan so you're prepared if
your smoke alarm(s) sound.
● Most "hard-wired" smoke alarms still have batteries as a backup
during power failures.

With the upcoming cold weather and holiday season, it is imperative
that homes be equipped with smoke alarms on each level and outside of
each sleeping area at a minimum. Placing smoke alarms in each sleeping
room is highly recommended. 

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