CITY OF RENO NEWS RELEASE
With the upcoming time change, the Reno Fire Department says it’s a good easy reminder when changing clocks to replace the batteries in smoke alarms.In a fire, working smoke alarms in a home can mean the difference between life and death. “Smoke alarms that are properly installed and maintained provide an early warning signal which could allow everyone in the home to safely escape,” advised Reno Fire Marshal Jeff Donahue. While current code requires a smoke alarm in every sleeping area, Donahue points out that the minimum protection for homes is one smoke alarm outside of each sleeping room, and one on each level of the home including the basement.
Residents should use batteries recommended by the manufacturer and make sure they are firmly connected to the smoke alarm contacts. Remember if a smoke alarm starts making “chirping” noise, it’s a signal battery levels are low and need to be replaced. Dusting smoke detector surfaces and vacuuming the air vents regularly will keep dust and spider webs from fouling detection elements or causing false alarms. All smoke alarms, including those with 10-year lithium batteries, should be tested monthly. Smoke alarms that use ordinary batteries should have new batteries installed at least once a year.
Donahue would like to remind Reno residents that the Reno Fire Department has free residential smoke alarms, including ADA hearing-impaired smoke alarms for qualified applicants. Members of the Reno Fire Department will install these detectors free of charge thanks to a fire prevention and safety grant from the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The Reno Fire Department is dedicated to reducing the occurrence of home fires and home fire injuries through prevention and protection education. For information on preventing home kitchen fire in addition to other fire safety information, including how to apply for a free smoke alarm, contact the Reno Fire Prevention Division at 775.334.2300.
