Fire Prevention Week

by Chris Jackson, Communications Coordinator and Project Administrator

Did you know that smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years? Once a year, you should check your smoke alarms to review their date of manufacture. If the date is more than ten years old, you should replace the unit with a new smoke alarm. Additionally, you should test your smoke alarms monthly by pressing the test button on the unit, or if you have smart smoke alarms such as Nest Protect or First Alert, your system might automatically conduct sounds checks monthly. These steps are illustrated below.

Did you know that you should have a smoke alarm in every bedroom, outside each bedroom, and on every level of your home? Michigan law has specific requirements for smoke alarms that will apply when construction or renovations occur in the home. Even if you have not performed any construction or other renovations, it is still recommended that you add smoke alarms to meet these requirements in order to protect yourself and your family. Additionally, some new smoke alarms provide the ability to be interconnected without adding costly wiring to your existing home. Interconnected smoke alarms alert you in every room of your home, no matter where the smoke is actually occurring.