Smoke Detector Program

[RexBanner]

I am curious as to if any of you have a Smoke Detector Program with your department. I am aware of the Calgary Fire Dept's prgram (free detectors, batts, install, & info) but I don't know much about it and am looking at pitching this idea to our fire prevention office.

What are your policies regarding entering homes? Replacement or install of detectors (locations, amount). Handouts for residents? Handouts for residents who are not home (door knob hangers)? Supplier of detectors? Supplier of batteries? Liability regarding the program (forms, records, etc)?

Any info is appreciated. I am going to be reserching this a bit more in depth over the next couple of weeks.

[ruralchief]

We have had a small fire safety program in our department over the years. Our department's motto is "Smoke Detectors Save Lives".

We asked a regional department store for a grant through their charitable foundation, which initially funded the program. With that funding we purchased some fire safety materials pencils, coloring books, etc. Also, with this funding we purchased ten smoke detectors (SD's).

Our initial program was to install these ten SD's in homes with elderly and/or households with small children. We picked certain homes in the community and inquired if they had SD's and if so, how old were they? If they were 10 years old or over, we asked if they wanted a detector. We also located homes that did not have SD's and inquired if they wanted one.

We offered to install them, if the homeowner wanted them. I remember one elderly couple that we installed for. Usually elderly people appreciate the help.

Since it was a voluntary program, it was up to us to inquire with the homeowner and convince them to have a detector installed. Here are two instances where we were turned down:

1. One homeowner claimed that he would smell the smoke and wakeup, if a fire broke out. I tried to convince him to accept a free SD. He would not.

2. A homeowner had SD's that were sitting in his porch, he would not have them installed. He could not be convinced of having us install them.

Here is one success story. Each year I had an elderly couple inquire about having a new 9 volt SD battery installed in their SD. I would buy a battery and go to their place and they would pay me for the battery and I would install it. They were elderly (husband in 90's) and did not know much about having SD's, so they sought me out yearly to replace their battery.

As far as spreading the message of SD's, we appointed a female member (concerned mom) on our FD at the time, to be our fire safety coordinator. She was the contact for distributing the fire safety info to households with children.

I have written a letter to the editor of a local newspaper and sent out letters to property owners on the dangers of household items that contain, plastics, synthetics, etc. that release toxic gases when a home fire occurs. I remind people that a working smoke detector (particularly during sleeping hours) is needed to make a timely escape, before toxic gases will overcome you.

Usually this gets people attention and they want to have working smoke detectors.

Our next goal is to try and obtain more smoke detectors for distribution to the community. We are looking at asking Walmart for a donation to purchase smoke detectors or ask them to donate a certain quantity of them.

The first step in to analyze the demographics in your community and see what part of the population does not have detectors. They are the ones that need them.

Of course, for the general population, they need to be educated on the importance of testing their smoke detectors and replacing the battery often.

Good luck in your endeavors.

[CKL958]

We have a smoke ALARM program. Smoke detectors are part of a fire alarm system.

[ruralchief]

In our community, we refer to them as smoke detectors. Looking at some of the commercially published fire safety/prevention brochures that we distribute, they refer to them as smoke detectors. Those brochures were printed in the US.

As long as the general public recieves the fire safety message, that is all we are concerned with.

[guitarmedic87]

Last fall we started a smoke alarm program in our area aswell. We've stoppped now till summer months when the ground is dry and we dont have to worry about tracking mudd and snow through everyones house. Our goal/plan is to check ALL houses within our area. We have placed adds in the local paper saying that fire department members will be doing door to door inspection of fire alarms. Over all the response has been great, we've even had people calling the station wondering when they are going to be inspected because they have concerns about proper placement etc..

We bascially show up at the door, explain to the resident what we are doing and ask if we can come in to test their alarms. If they agree we do so. Any alarm that doesnt work, or is greater then 10 years old we replace. We supply batteries if that is the only reason why they are not working. Also make sure each house has the minumum required number of alarms,(one on every floor and outside sleeping areas) if they dont we give them one.

If it is gone about the right way it is a very effective way to meet people in your community and do some PR, aswell its great for gaining insight as to what type of structures are in your area and makes it easier to do a little pre planning for structure fires at that residence if you notice something different in the home. We have yet to have anyone not allow us into their homes for this, most people are very glad that we are being proactive. One rule that we use is never ever do these inspections alone always have a fellow firefighter with you at all times. When we leave we have the home owner sign a form that says we were there, and that all smoke alarms were working when the firedepartment left.

If no one is home, we leave some brochures with a number to call to set up an appointment for an inspection.

If the home owner refuses to allow us into the residence, or refuses to allow us to install the smoke alarms, again we have a form that they sign that says such. And if they refuse to sign the form we have another for that the firefighters sign saying that they were at a residence, the homeowner refused access or refused installation and they also refused to sign.

There is alot of paper work that goes along with this. We have a master list that tells us who has been checked, who needs it, and who has refused. We are looking forward to getting this started in the spring again. Good luck with your program, hope you get something worked out.

[cmollison]

If we respond to a call in a residence and we noticed there are no working smoke alarms we provide and install them free of charge. We have the home owner sign a liability document and such. One program that works well for us is after every house fire we hand deliver a letter to each house on the street titled "It happened on your street!" which stress the importance of have working smoke alarms in your residence.

[CKL958]

If we respond to a call in a residence and we noticed there are no working smoke alarms we provide and install them free of charge.

When you say them - does this mean if they are a really bad homeowner, and don't have a working smoke alarm anywhere, you install the one per floor, AND outside each sleeping area?



We have the home owner sign a liability document and such.

Just curious what this says... We all know what the code calls for, so is it just a "I will keep things up to snuff now" or is it a "We (FD) take no liability in this should something go wrong"???


One program that works well for us is after every house fire we hand deliver a letter to each house on the street titled "It happened on your street!" which stress the importance of have working smoke alarms in your residence.


Like the premise behind this idea - effective in the sense that we are a reactive society - something happens, we THEN do something to fix it - we don't anticipate what is to come.

[cmollison]

When you say them - does this mean if they are a really bad homeowner, and don't have a working smoke alarm anywhere, you install the one per floor, AND outside each sleeping area?


Pretty much. We cannot leave the house until there is a working smoke alarm on each floor and outside each sleeping area. I havent come across a house yet where we had to install 3 or more smoke detectors.


Just curious what this says... We all know what the code calls for, so is it just a "I will keep things up to snuff now" or is it a "We (FD) take no liability in this should something go wrong"???

We test the smoke detector, put in fresh batteries but you never know when things could fail. CYA.



Like the premise behind this idea - effective in the sense that we are a reactive society - something happens, we THEN do something to fix it - we don't anticipate what is to come.

Thats exactly it.

[CKL958]

Thats exactly it.


Looks like some of your reply got mixed in....

Agree with what you say about things failing anytime - I'm an alarm tech - when I'm signing my name on an alarm system, I am saying that things are working at time of testing. I am not guaranteeing that in 364 days, things will still work

[RexBanner]

Thanks Everyone for your replies. They are very infomative and have helped me build a plan for this idea.