A public alarm was issued Friday about the unusually large number of fatal fires in Massachusetts this winter where there were no working smoke detectors.
The state fire marshal and many of the fire chiefs in communities where a fatal fire has occurred this winter sounded the alarm. The Orange fire chief was among those at a Friday morning press conference urging the use of smoke detectors to prevent fire deaths.
There have been 28 home fire deaths in Massachusetts homes since Dec. 1, and in nearly 60 percent of them, there were no working smoke alarms, said Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey, who issued a press release with the Fire Chiefs’ Association of Massachusetts, the Fire Prevention Association of Massachusetts, the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts and other fire chiefs.
Of those fatalities, three were in Franklin County, all in Orange. A man was killed Feb. 16 and two young girls died March 5, the fire marshal’s office reported.
“The fire service stands here today asking for the public’s help to prevent more fire deaths. This weekend, when you change your clocks, take the time to put new batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms as well,” said Ostroskey.
Wellesley Fire Chief Richard DeLorie, president of the Fire Chiefs’ Association of Massachusetts said, “Many of the fire deaths have been older adults. We encourage seniors to ask for help testing their smoke alarms, replacing the batteries, or installing new ones. Call your local fire department or senior center for help.”
Lt. Stephen LaVoie, president of the Fire Prevention Association of Massachusetts, said, “Through the Student Awareness of Fire Education or S.A.F.E. Program we have significantly cut the number of children who die in Massachusetts fires. The terrible fire in Orange (March 5) reminds us that we must all protect families by making sure we have working smoke alarms on every level of the home and a practiced home escape plan.”
Ostroskey said residents should make sure their alarms are not more than 10 years old.
The Department of Fire Services reminds people that smoke alarms do not last forever and need to be replaced every 10 years. Many people install smoke alarms when they move into a home and then forget about them, the marshal said.
“When replacing smoke alarms, consider purchasing ones with a sealed, 10-year lithium battery,” said Chief DeLorie. “No more batteries chirping at 3 a.m.; just replace the entire unit once every 10 years.”
Jennifer Mieth, spokeswoman for the fire marshal, said Friday her office was very grateful that Orange Chief James Young Jr. “lent his voice to this effort” to urge the public to have working smoke detectors.
While the fire marshal’s office has not completed its investigation of the March 5 fire at 34 Mechanic St., Mieth did say there was “no evidence of working smoke detectors.” There were carbon monoxide detectors, she said.
Young referred inquiries about the fire investigation on Friday to the fire marshal, but did say he supports of the message fire officials delivered Friday morning.
Mieth said the state fire officials made the plea because of the “above average number of fire deaths” this past winter in which a “common thread” was lack of operable smoke detectors.
She said the problem is a statewide issue, and noted that there is only one to three minutes to escape the toxic smoke in the average home once the smoke alarm has sounded.