On April 30, 2023, at 4:39 am, Blackpool Fire Rescue in the North Thompson was called to a structure fire in a unit of a mobile home park. Five occupants were awoken by the active smoke detector alarm, and were able to evacuate and call 9-1-1.
The incident is just one of many highlighting the importance of having working smoke detectors in your home. That’s why this year, the theme of Fire Prevention Week in B.C. is “Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you!”, emphasizing the life-saving role of smoke alarms in preventing tragedy.
When the Blackpool firefighters arrived at the structure, they found a small fire under the rear of a newer addition on the back of the unit, which was quickly extinguished. Fire crew members found a wire that had been nicked by a nail and shorted during construction of the addition to the home.
“The people were very grateful to have had a working smoke alarm,” said Blackpool Fire Chief Mike Savage. “The smoke alarm not only saved them; it saved their home.”
Closer to home, Cache Creek Fire Chief Tom Moe recalls one structure fire in Cache Creek several years ago where one person died.
“There was no smoke detector, and they would have had a better chance [of surviving] if there had been one,” he said. “It’s especially important if you’re in a mobile home. They have three minutes before they’re fully engulfed, so there’s not a lot of time to get out.”
Ashcroft Fire Rescue chief Josh White says it’s been proven time and time again that smoke detectors save lives. In 2021 the department was called to an early-morning house fire in Ashcroft, where the smoke detector went off and alerted the resident in time. He was able to get out of the house and keep the fire at bay until firefighters arrived.
“Had this person not had a smoke detector the outcome could have been quite different,” says White.
There are two basic types of smoke detector: photoelectric and ionization. While both are good at detecting fires, they do so in different ways.
“Ionization detectors pick up particulates in the air,” explains White. “Smoke rises, and the heat in it will activate the sensor, which picks up the particulates coming into the sensor.
“Photoelectric sensors are more for picking up heat and work via line of sight, so you wouldn’t want it in the living room in view of the fireplace.”
Ionization models are the most common type of smoke detector. White suggests that photoelectric ones might be best near the kitchen, because they’re less likely to produce “nuisance calls” when you burn the toast, but says that people should do some research and find out which kind of smoke detector works best for their situation.
He adds that there are now different kinds of smoke detectors and alarms for different people. “People who are hearing impaired can get one with a flashing light, which connects with a unit that goes under your pillow and vibrates to wake the person up. All sorts of different things are available now.”
With Daylight Saving Time ending in just over a week, it’s the perfect time to test your smoke detectors and change out the batteries. White says that the batteries should be replaced every six months, which is why the beginning and ending of Daylight Saving Time each year is a good (and easily remembered) time to do it.
It’s not just the batteries that need to be replaced regularly, however. The average smoke alarm should be replaced every 10 years, because over time the internal sensors lose sensitivity due to air contaminants and dust buildup.
If you’re not sure how old your smoke detectors are (and you should have at least one for every level of your house), check the back for the date of manufacture. If for some reason there isn’t one, take a close look at the colour of its plastic cover. If it’s tan, brown, or grey, chances are the device is due for replacement.
If you don’t want to worry about changing batteries every six months, look for a smoke detector that comes with sealed, 10-year batteries. They’re more expensive than regular alarms, but the cost of replacement batteries is typically covered over the life of the product. These long-term alarms typically emit an end-of-life chirp sequence when they’re ready for replacement.
Some manufacturers offer detectors that are interconnected, which means that once one alarm sounds, the others in the home automatically do too. This can be particularly useful if there are detectors in the basement, where they might not be heard when everyone is asleep upstairs. There are also combination smoke/CO alarms and advanced units that can send emergency texts or emails through a WiFi setup.
White says that anyone who needs help installing a smoke detector can call Ashcroft Fire Rescue at (250) 457-0470. “We can make arrangements if people need assistance.
“Please have one in your home,” he adds. “They’re the cheapest insurance you can have as far as your safety goes, and it’s your last line of defence. You purchase it one time and it’s good for 10 years.
“Take that cost and divide by 10. You often can’t buy a coffee for what it costs per year. Have them in your home, have them working, and if you don’t know how old they are replace them. Get it done.”
