Fire Chief Asks Residents To Ensure Smoke Detectors Are Operational

Press release from the Livingston Fire Department:

Nov. 2, 2022

As our National Fire Prevention Month (October) comes to a close, Livingston Fire Chief Christopher Mullin in asking all residents to ensure they have operational smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in their homes.

“In light of two recent tragedies over this past weekend (10/29,30) where a total of five children and one adult were killed in structure fires in both New York City and in Pittsburg, Pennslyvania, I am asking Livingston residents to ensure that you have operational smoke and carbon monoxide detectors protecting your home, and the occupants sleeping in it. Chief Mullin quoted a recent National Fire Protection Agency statistic regarding operational smoke alarms and fire-related deaths .“The death rate per 1,000 home structure fires is 55 percent lower in homes with working smoke alarms than in homes with no alarms or alarms that fail to operate."

The Chief noted the newest technology on the market today regarding battery operated smoke alarms are “10 Year Sealed Battery Detectors” that are care free for a 10 year period, and do not allow the occupant to remove the battery. I would encourage residents to replace older battery operated detectors (which require bi-annual battery change) with the new 10 Year Sealed Battery Detectors immediately. Chief Mullin stated “Take the worry out of changing the batteries when you change your clock and replace the older detectors with the new technology 10 Year Sealed units”. The new detectors will make an audible alarm after 10 years when they expire to notify you that they need to be replaced. If for some reason you stay with the older detectors, (where you can change the batteries) remember to change the batteries when you change the clocks on Sunday November 6, 2022.

For residents who have a hard-wired smoke alarm system, I would advise that you have the system checked at least annually by a qualified contractor who is familiar with its operation and can note any operational deficiencies. Systems that have central station monitoring should also be tested to ensure that the alarm signal is being dispatched to central station in the event of an alarm activation. As always, any fire related questions should be forwarded to the Livingston Fire Prevention Bureau at (973) 992-2373 or emailed to LFD@livingstonnj.org or visit our website at Livingstonfire.org

This press release was produced by the Livingston Fire Department. The views expressed here are the author's own.