NJ Division of Fire Safety Reminds Residents to Check Smoke Detectors, Carbon Monoxide Alarms Nov. 6

TRENTON — The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ Division of Fire Safety (NJDFS) is reminding residents that Daylight Saving Time, on Sun., Nov. 6, 2016, is the best time to check the manufacture dates of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms and to change the batteries. Units over 10 years old should be replaced with a new one.
“Don’t Wait – Check the Date!” is this year’s National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) slogan for community risk reduction efforts throughout the state. New Jersey students will use this theme during the 2016-2017 Annual Scholastic Fire Safety Poster Contest conducted by NJDFS and the New Jersey Fire Prevention and Protection Association.
“Technology is constantly changing and we all need to update our devices to ensure they are current and operate properly. A smoke or CO alarm that is 10 years old, or older, has reached the end of its useful life and should be replaced,” said William Kramer, Jr., Acting Director and State Fire Marshal.
Kramer notes that national statistics show the necessity of having working, up-to-date, smoke and CO alarms on every level of your residence.
· Three out of five home fire deaths result from fires in properties without working smoke alarms.
· More than one-third (37 percent) of home fire deaths result from fires in which no smoke alarms are present.
· The risk of dying in a home fire is cut in half in homes with working smoke alarms.
The NFPA and Federal Emergency Management Agency’s US Fire Administration have produced an easy-to-follow infographic on how to determine the age of CO alarms and the procedures to follow to replace it.
The Division of Fire Safety serves as the state’s central fire service agency. The Division is responsible for the development and enforcement of the State Uniform Fire Code as well as for implementing community risk reduction and firefighter training programs.