A working smoke alarm is the best way of alerting residents to a fire. Smoke alarms save lives, families and firefighters. While the message is simple, statistics show that Americans need to pay more attention to not only installing, but maintaining the smoke alarms in their homes. A smoke alarm with a dead or missing battery is the same as no smoke alarm at all.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, in 2003-2006, almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. No smoke alarms were present in 40 percent of the home fire deaths and in 23 percent of the home fire deaths, smoke alarms were present, but did not sound.
Installing and maintaining residential fire sprinklers is also important to helping save lives. When both smoke alarms and fire sprinklers are present in a home, the risk of dying in a fire is reduced by 82 percent, when compared to a residence without either.
The U.S. Fire Administration welcomes media inquiries regarding this campaign. In addition to answering questions, the following components are also available to the media from the Campaign Materials page:
Journalists seeking additional information or an interview with a USFA spokesperson are welcome to contact our Campaign Media Center at (202) 842-3600 (ask for the USFA Install. Inspect. Protect. Campaign) or email Christy Bennett at usfa@hagersharp.com.
Last Reviewed: October 28, 2009
Happy New Year! Add this resolution to the top of your list: test all home smoke alarms each month - starting today! January 1, 2013 @ 10:04 AM ET
U.S. Fire Administration, 16825 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, MD 21727 | USNG: 18SUJ00529652
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