[Press Release] : RECENT MULTIPLE FATALITY FIRES: Are your smoke alarms working? Do you have smoke alarms in your home? Test your smoke alarms NOW!

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Battalion Chief Steven E. Sapp, Public Information Officer -
(573) 499-7035

RECENT MULTIPLE FATALITY FIRES: Are your smoke alarms working? Do you
have smoke alarms in your home? Test your smoke alarms NOW!

COLUMBIA, MO (April 17, 2009) - In less than a year, a neighboring
community has lost five children as a result of horrible home fires. The
hearts of firefighters and others grieve for the loss of those children
and for the surviving family members during their time of insurmountable
loss. 

Firefighters and emergency responders urge you to take a few minutes
NOW, and make sure that you have an adequate number of working smoke
alarms in your home and to develop and practice a family fire escape
plan. 

The National Fire Protection Association estimates that your chances of
surviving a home fire increase by 50 percent when your home has working
smoke alarms. With working smoke alarms and a home fire sprinkler
system, the United States Fire Administration estimates that your
chances of surviving a home fire increase by 82 percent.

Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of your home, including
basements. Install smoke alarms in the common hallways near sleeping
rooms so that the smoke alarm can be heard at night while you’re
sleeping - the most common time deadly fires occur in the home. For the
best protection, install smoke alarms in each sleeping room, as well as
the common hallways.

Tonight or this weekend, please test your smoke alarms. It’s simple;
depress the test button on the front of the alarm. After a few seconds,
the smoke alarm should emit a series of loud beeps or a loud signal to
get out. If your smoke alarm does not emit a noise, the most likely
culprit is a dead battery. Go to the store - purchase new batteries and
install them in your smoke alarm if it is not working - don’t use a
battery from a toy or other appliance - only a new battery. 

Does your smoke alarm still not work after replacing the battery or is
the smoke alarm over 10 years old? Replace your smoke alarms with new
ones. Many UL listed smoke alarms cost around $5. Spend a little more
and you can purchase a smoke alarm with a sealed 10-year lithium battery
which will save you from having to replace batteries in the smoke alarm
each year. 

If you can’t afford batteries or a new smoke alarm(s) and live in
Columbia, call the Columbia Fire Department at (573) 874-7391. The
Columbia Fire Department and the Columbia Professional Fire Fighters
have created a partnership to provide and install smoke alarms in
Columbia homes. Batteries for smoke alarms or new smoke alarms can be
provided at no cost. We’ll even help you put them up. 

And remember, create a plan so you and every member of your family know
what to do if a smoke alarm sounds. Get out and stay out. Have a meeting
place. Call 9-1-1 from the meeting place without delay. Don’t go back
into a burning building to try and rescue someone or retrieve
belongings. 

By installing and testing your smoke alarms TODAY - you can help
prevent these horrible tragedies from happening to your family. And if
you’re considering building a new home, ask your designer and your
builder about installing residential fire sprinklers. With today’s
technology, residential fire sprinklers are easy to install, normally
cost no more then a carpet or cabinet upgrade, can provide you with a
decrease in your home owner insurance rates and you have a
“firefighter” on duty in your home 24/7!

- 30 -
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