For Immediate Release

Monday, Dec. 7, 2015

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Groveland Fire Department Participates In Statewide Smoke Alarm Public Awareness Campaign

GROVELAND – Chief Robert Lay reports that the Groveland Fire Department, in conjunction with State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan, is participating in a statewide smoke alarm public awareness campaign – Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With – to remind residents about the importance of replacing aging smoke alarms.

The campaign is also designed to support fire department education efforts and will include television and radio public service announcements, transit ads and social media.

“While smoke alarms are vital devices in keeping us safe in our homes, we know that they can often be neglected,” Chief Lay said. “We’re asking residents to take a moment and think about the last time they upgraded their alarms. If it’s been longer than 10 years, it’s time to replace them to ensure you’re protected in the event that a fire were to occur.”

In Massachusetts, all homes must be equipped with smoke alarms and one and two-family homes built before 1975 must have working alarms that are less than 10 years old before they can be sold.

“Most people know they are supposed to have working smoke alarms, but the one thing most people don’t know is that they should replace their entire alarms about every 10 years,” State Fire Marshal Coan said. “Major manufacturers of smoke alarms indicate they have a service life of about 10 years and recommend replacement after that.”

The Office of the State Fire Marshal reports that in 2014, there were 10 percent more fire deaths in one and two-family homes than all other residential occupancies combined. Thirty-six percent of the fire deaths in those homes occurred where there was no working smoke alarms or where they failed to operate.

A fire doubles in size every 60 seconds. Smoke and heat can make escape impossible in less than two to three minutes in the average home that does not have sprinklers. Residents are urged to be safe, be aware and be protected. Install smoke alarms throughout your home and remember to:

• Test them monthly
• Replace batteries when you change your clocks
• Never disable them or take out the batteries while cooking

When the alarm sounds:
• Get out and stay out! (Make sure you have two ways out of every room)
• Go to a predetermined family meeting place
• Call 911 from a neighbor’s home

For more information on smoke alarms and home escape plans, contact the Groveland Fire Department at 978-374-1922 or visit the Department of Fire Services at www.mass.gov/DFS.

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