Don't wait: Check the date on your smoke alarms

Does your home have a smoke alarm? The majority of people answer yes to this question, but most people are not sure how old their smoke alarms are. This lack of awareness is a concern for the Idaho State Fire Marshal’s Office because smoke alarms don’t last forever.

Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter has signed a proclamation declaring October 9-14 as Idaho Fire Prevention Week. The focus is on smoke alarms for the third year in a row. Public misconceptions about the value of smoke alarms may put them at risk in the event of a home fire.

“If a smoke alarm is ten years old or more, replace it,” says Idaho State Fire Marshal Knute Sandahl. “Smoke alarms lose sensitivity after ten years and can fail to alert you to a fire in your home.”

To find out how old a smoke alarm is, look at the date of manufacture on the back of the alarm; the alarm should be replaced ten years from that date.

In 2015, fire fighters responded to 986 home fires resulting in 12 deaths. “I urge every Idahoan to check their smoke alarms for a current date and replace the batteries at least once a year. A working smoke alarm is your first and best defense from becoming a statistic,” says Sandahl.

Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres.

The Idaho Department of Insurance has been regulating the business of insurance in Idaho since 1901. The mission of the Department is to equitably, effectively and efficiently administer the Idaho Insurance Code and the International Fire Code. For more information, visit www.doi.idaho.gov.