Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms play an important role in reducing fire deaths and injuries. If there is a fire in your home, smoke alarms provide you and your family time to get out. Regular testing and maintenance of smoke alarms helps keep your family protected.
โIf a fire breaks out in your home, you have less than two minutes to get out after the smoke alarm sounds,โ said Harris County Fire Marshal Mike Montgomery. โTesting smoke alarms once a month and replacing smoke alarms every 10 years is vital to reducing fire deaths and injuries.โ
Smoke alarm facts and safety tips:
- ๏ท Test smoke alarms once a month.
- ๏ท Install smoke alarms inside and outside each bedroom and sleeping area.
- ๏ท Install smoke alarms on every level of the home.
- ๏ท Install smoke alarms on the ceiling or high on the wall.
- ๏ท It is best to use interconnected smoke alarms. When one smoke alarms sounds, they all
sound.
- ๏ท Smoke alarms should be replace every 10 years from manufacturing date.
- ๏ท People who are hard-of-hearing or deaf can use special alarms that have strobe lights or
bed shakers.
- ๏ท Have an escape plan, and practice that plan. Once the smoke alarm sounds, you have less than two minutes to escape.
Contact the Harris County Fire Marshalโs Office with any questions or concerns about smoke alarms in apartment complexes by calling (713) 274-1700 or emailing fmosupport@fmo.hctx.net. For additional information on smoke alarms and smoke alarm safety tips, visit www.hcfmo.net.