As the holidays and cooler weather approach, the risk of home fires will increase. Are you and your home prepared?
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, in 2022, the statistics for residential building fires included 374,000 fires, 2,720 deaths, 10,250 injuries, and a combined monetary loss of $10,821,300,000.
National Fire Prevention week runs from October 6-12, 2024, and this year’s theme is “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!”
Did you know that most home fires are caused by cooking? In 2022, there were 178,600 fires caused by improper cooking.
The best way to protect your home and family is to have smoke detectors. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, “a smoke alarm is critical for the early detection of a fire in your home and could mean the difference between life and death. Fires can occur in a variety of ways and in any room of your home. But no matter where or how, having a smoke alarm is the first key step toward your family’s safety.”
“The State of Virginia Fire Code requires that a smoke detector be placed near every bedroom, preferably above the door and centered in the hallway if there are multiple bedrooms on the same level,” said District II Chief Fire Inspector Joseph Petko. “Smoke alarms are not advisable in kitchens due to smoke from cooking can set them off.”
You can place smoke alarms on the first floor of your home approximately 10 feet from your kitchen and remember to place fire alarms in your garage too.
When protecting your home, it’s important to select the proper alarm for your residence and to understand the different types. The two types of fire alarms are ionization and photoelectric.
An ionization alarm uses a small amount of radioactive material to ionize the air in the detection chamber. Any smoke that enters the chamber will disrupt the ionization process and trigger the alarm. Ionization alarms are better at detecting fires that produce a small amount of smoke. However, they are less likely to detect a slow smoldering fire and are most likely to trigger false alarms caused by cooking smoke or steam.
Photoelectric alarms use a light source and a sensor. As smoke enters a photoelectric alarm, it disperses the light beam and triggers the alarm. This type of alarm is much better at detecting slow smoldering fires that produce a lot of smoke and are less likely to be triggered by cooking smoke and steam. However, they are less sensitive to detecting “fast-flaming” fires.
“Choosing the right smoke alarm depends on the specific needs of your home and fire safety requirements,” said District II Assistant Fire Chief Shawn Charity. “Combining both ionization and photoelectric alarms or opting for multi-sensor alarms can offer the most comprehensive protection for your home and family.”
| Date Taken: | 10.11.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 10.15.2024 07:23 |
| Story ID: | 482981 |
| Location: | PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 35 |
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This work, Protect Your Home and Family with Smoke Detectors, by Susanne Greene, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
