Oswego Fire Protection District reminds residents to install, check, and maintain smoke detectors

The Oswego Fire Protection District encourages residents to consider installing the new long-lasting, lithium battery powered smoke detectors in their homes. These detectors are powered with a battery which can last upward of 10 years and eliminates the need to change batteries every six months. Smoke detectors should still be tested and dusted monthly.

With over 3,000 citizens dying from home fires across the United States each year, and almost three of every five home fire deaths resulting from fires in homes with no smoke alarms (40%) or no smoke alarms that were working (17%), having properly operating smoke detectors installed will help ensure protection against fires in the home.

In addition to maintaining the smoke detectors, the fire district also stresses the importance of developing a home escape plan and practicing it with family members monthly.

For those without the sealed 10-year batteries, the fire district encourages citizens to change out their smoke detector batteries every six months and to change the actual smoke detectors every 5-10 years.

Every home should have one smoke detector inside every bedroom, one smoke detector in the hallway outside of each separate sleeping area and one smoke detector on every habitable level of the residence including the basement.