OIB ANNIVERSARY: Smoke detectors key safety equipment in homes

FLORENCE — Sunday’s fire that killed seven South Carolina college students in Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., serves as a reminder that when it comes to fires, smoke detectors are some of the most important pieces of equipment anyone can own, local firefighters said.

“ ... they’re very important because it saves lives and if you get smoke in your house, you can get out,” West Florence Fire Department Chief Larue Hendrix said.

Experts report that consumers may cut their risk of dying in a home fire in half simply by having a smoke alarm in their homes, according to Underwriters Laboratories Inc. UL recommends installing at least one smoke alarm on each floor of the house or residence and outside all sleeping areas. Some fire safety advocates also recommend installing smoke alarms inside each sleeping area if sleeping with the door closed.

There are several different types of smoke detectors on the market. Alison Stephens, who works at Lowe’s on David H. McLeod Boulevard in Florence, said wire-in smoke detectors are connected directly into a home’s or business’ electrical system.

“With the wire-in smoke detectors, they are linked one to the other, so if one goes off, the rest of the house goes off,” Stephens said. “... some models (also) have the battery back-up so that if the lights go out, you still have protection with the fire alarm system.”

Battery-operated smoke alarms are available as well. People can also find dual alarms that detect other hazards, like carbon monoxide, in addition to smoke.

Firefighters say that regardless of what type of smoke detector is in a home or business, all of them need to be replaced every 10 years and should be tested on a monthly basis.

Firefighters also say people should change the batteries in your smoke detectors twice a year when the time changes, as it will Sunday.

For the past 20 years, Daylight Saving Time ended on the last Sunday in October. Thanks to a new federal law, it will end Sunday. People are advised to set the clocks back an hour before they go to bed Saturday night.

The safety experts at UL say smoke alarms most often fail because of missing, dead or disconnected batteries. Don’t allow anyone to disconnect or “borrow” the batteries from smoke alarms. A smoke alarm can’t work unless it’s connected to a power source.

— WBTW News 13’s Patricia Burkett contributed to this report.