Two weeks ago, Brian Martin wrote about the rash of fire-related tragedies that ended 2008 and welcomed 2009. He is not alone as the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) had also just issued a press release on this very topic. This column will cover some of the high points of that release and offer some follow-up information and recommendations, some of which we have presented before, but all meant to save lives. Fire service leaders and USFA head Greg Cade recently asked everyone to install, maintain and/or test smoke alarms. Mr. Cade said, "The 2008 holiday season and the start of 2009 may be recorded as one of the deadliest for residential fires in recent memory of the fire service. Not only have there been a significant number of preventable fires, but the occurrences of multiple fatalities resulting from these fires are simply unacceptable within our nation. There should be a smoke alarm protecting every person in this nation today, particularly as we sleep." Since Thanksgiving 2008, there have been more than 158 fatal fires in the United States resulting in over 200 deaths. Reported multiple fatality incidents between Christmas Eve and January 7 include: • Four children died in a house fire in Mount Sterling, Kentucky. Officials do not know if smoke alarms worked. • Four adults and three children died in a Philadelphia home when gasoline was used to fuel a kerosene heater. There were no working smoke alarms in the home. • In Baltimore, two people died in a fire above a grocery store. Investigators found no working smoke alarms in the building. • In Washington, D.C., six individuals died in a house fire and officials are not sure smoke alarms worked properly. • Eight people, including four children, died in a residential fire in Richland, New York thought to have been caused by a wood stove. The home had no working smoke alarms. • Three people died after an early morning house fire in Ringling, Oklahoma caused by a gas stove being used for heating. • There were no working smoke alarms in a Chicago home where three children died in a fire. Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms can save your life and the lives of your loved ones by providing an early warning signal so you and your family can escape. Maintaining your smoke alarms and practicing a fire escape plan save lives. Install alarms on every level of your home, including the basement. For extra safety, install smoke alarms both inside and outside sleeping areas. Since smoke and many deadly gases rise, installing alarms at the proper level provides the earliest warning possible. Interconnected alarms that all go off when one activates are also recommended. Battery-operated, wireless systems are now available. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions as there are differences between brands. Children and adolescents are a particular concern as new research suggests some sleep so deeply that they may not respond to an alarm, but will to a parent’s voice. The industry now offers alarms that provide loud verbal escape commands when they detect smoke. If your smoke alarm starts "chirping", replace the batteries and reset it. Alarms powered by long-lasting batteries should be totally replaced according to manufacturer’s instructions when the batteries weaken. In standard battery-powered alarms and in hard-wired, battery back up units, the batteries should be checked monthly and replaced at least yearly. If an alarm goes off while you’re cooking, it’s doing its job. Do not disable your alarm if it activates due to cooking or other non-fire causes. You may forget to put the batteries back in. Instead, clear the air by waving a towel near the alarm, leaving the batteries in place, and move it to a new location no farther than 20 feet from the appliance. Some models have a button that will let you “hush” an alarm for 10 minutes while cooking. For a few dollars (or even free), a smoke detector provides priceless safety for you and your family. It’s an offer you can’t refuse! Eric Myers is an assistant chief with the BBVFC, which he joined in 1999. He is a graduate of Indian River High School and Mount St. Mary’s College and is a project manager for Ryan Homes. He lives in Clarksville with his wife, Brandy, also BBVFC member, and can be reached at [email protected].