Rockwall Fire Department urges residents to take safety steps

ROCKWALL, TX (August 26, 2014) October is fire safety month and the Rockwall Fire Department would like to reach out to the community.  Fire Safety is a year round job for the department and should also be on the minds of all Rockwall residents.

If I were to ask Rockwall residents the last time they tested their smoke alarms, my guess is that few would be able to recall when they had, or if they’d ever done so at all. If smoke alarms aren’t tested regularly, knowing whether they’re in working order is uncertain – and potentially fatal.

Smoke alarms save lives by detecting and alerting people to fire in its early stages, giving them the time needed to escape safely. But they must be functioning properly. According to the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fires nearly in half.

By taking the following simple steps, Rockwall residents can ensure their households’ safety from fire:

• Test your smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button, and make sure everyone in your home knows their sound.
• If an alarm “chirps,” warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away.
• Replace all smoke alarms, including alarms that use 10-year batteries and hard-wired alarms, when they’re ten years old or sooner if they do not respond properly when tested.

In addition to monthly testing, make sure you have the needed amount of smoke alarms in your home. They should be installed in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement. For the best protection, smoke alarms should be interconnected, so that when one sounds, they all do. This is particularly important in larger or multi-story homes, where the sound from distant smoke alarms may be reduced to the point that it may not be loud enough to provide proper warning, especially for sleeping individuals.

Those with questions or concerns about smoke alarm testing or installation may contact the Rockwall Fire Department at (972) 771-7770, or visit nfpa.org/smokealarms  for more information.

Submitted by Kevin Clark, Arson Investigator/Fire Inspector, Rockwall Fire Department.

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