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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