BOSTON, MA — “This winter there have been too many fatal fires, and in a majority of cases, there were no working smoke alarms,” said State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey. “Please take a moment this weekend to replace the batteries in smoke alarms that use alkaline batteries, and to make sure the alarms are less than ten years old,” he added. Ostroskey said, “Remember: ‘Smoke alarms are a sound you can live with’.”
Replace Aging Smoke Alarms
“Smoke alarms, like other household appliances, don’t last forever,” said Chief Richard DeLorie, president of the Fire Chiefs’ Association of Massachusetts, “Every ten years the entire alarm needs to be replaced, not just the batteries,” he added.
Senior SAFE
Two hundred thirteen (213) fire departments across the state have grant-funded Senior SAFE Programs. Seniors who need help testing, maintaining or replacing smoke alarms should contact their local fire department or senior center for assistance. Ostroskey said, “A third of the people who have died in fires this year were over 65, and nearly half were over age 60. We want our seniors to be safe from fire in their own homes.”
Working Smoke Alarms Are a Sound You Can Live With
DeLorie said “No one expects to be a victim of a fire, but the best way to survive one that does occur is to have working smoke alarms.” In the average house fire, there are only 1-3 minutes to escape AFTER the smoke alarm sounds. He added, “Take a few minutes to protect those you love by changing the batteries in your smoke alarms this weekend. “Then take a step stool and some 9-volts to your parents or older neighbor’s and ask if you can refresh their smoke alarms.”
(NOTE: The above press release is from the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services.)
Like Wilmington Apple on Facebook. Follow Wilmington Apple on Twitter. Subscribe to Wilmington Apple’s daily email newsletter HERE. Got a comment, question, photo, press release, or news tip? Email wilmingtonapple@gmail.com.
Wilmington Apple 