EASTHAMPTON — At a press conference on Wednesday, Fire Chief Christopher Norris held up a mangled piece of metal and plastic. The unrecognizable melted mess was the remnants of a melted, battery-less smoke alarm. The device was recovered from a 2004 fire, which killed a family of five.
“This was one of the detectors at that event and it didn’t have any batteries in it, and obviously was not functioning during that critical and tragic event,” Norris said about the fire that occurred in Dennis, a town on Cape Cod.
The press conference is part of a larger campaign spearheaded by the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts and state Department of Fire Services, urging residents to check their smoke detectors. Two other events were held earlier this month.
State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine, the former fire chief in Northampton, and Hadley Fire Chief Michael Spanknebel also spoke at the Easthampton event.
“The state’s fire chiefs are committed to fire and life safety for all of our residents and communities. For that end, we are partnering with the state fire marshal and the Department of Fire Services on an important campaign this fall. It centers on smoke alarms. Choosing the right alarms, replacing them when necessary and disposing of them safely,” Norris said.
Behind Norris stood roughly 20 fire chiefs of western Massachusetts, urging everyone to check their smoke alarm’s manufacturing date.
A 2015 change to the Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code requires replacement smoke alarms in most homes in the state to have a sealed, 10-year battery and a “hush” feature, which will temporarily pause a nuisance alarm. This change aimed to reduce the likelihood that residents will take the batteries out after an alarm from “nuisances” like cooking smoke, or use the batteries for another device like a TV remote.
“These modern alarms will eliminate the risk that someone might remove the batteries … or put them in another device and they work extremely well,” Norris said.
At the cusp of the 10-year mark since the change, many smoke detectors are hitting their lifespan. Just like any other appliance, smoke alarms can malfunction and don’t last forever, Norris said.
“One of the most frustrating and heartbreaking events we encounter is a fatal fire at a home with disabled smoke alarms,” he said. “All to often we find alarms and their brackets with dead batteries, no batteries or no detectors.”
One of these instances occurred earlier this month when two individuals died in a house fire in Chelmsford.
“The investigation into this fire found that there were no working smoke alarms in that home,” Norris said. “These common themes cannot continue and this campaign has helped minimize the potential of these tragedies from occurring.”
The manufacturing date can be found on the back of smoke alarms. Depending on the manufacturer, there will be instructions to replace the detector after five, seven or 10 years. If the detector is 10 years old, Norris said to replace it and if it is not that old, then replace the batteries.
“Last year, almost 40% of the state’s residential fire deaths took place between October and December, and tragically, we found working smoke alarms at only one-third of these deadly fires,” Davine said.
Davine said when choosing a detector, pick a well-known national brand. Many fire departments have seen “no-name” devices sold online, that do not meet fire code. “If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is,” he said.
When choosing a replacement, look for the mark of an independent testing lab on the packaging such as UL or Intertek/ETL. Choose a replacement alarm with a sealed, long-life battery and a hush feature. They recommended looking for alarms that meet UL Standard 217, 8th edition or later.
Davine urged to have detectors at least on every level of the home and in every room. “Last winter, 60% of … fatal fires took place during overnight hours when most of us were sleeping,” he said.
Davine said to check on grandparents, parents and older friends and neighbors. Fatal fires are most common in older, single-family homes.
“That’s not because these homes are dangerous or because new homes are safer,” he said. “Most often, it’s because these older homes have been occupied for decades without anyone checking, maintaining or replacing the smoke alarms. And sadly, the older adults that live in these homes are at the greatest risk.”
Carbon monoxide detectors are just as important, Norris added, noting that carbon monoxide has no odor, taste and it cannot be seen. These detectors differ slightly from smoke detectors, but they have similar lifespans and should be checked too.
In March of 2006, the state adopted Nicole’s Law, requiring carbon monoxide detectors at every level of home residencies, according to Norris. The law is named after 7-year-old Nicole Garofalo, who died in January 2005 when a heating vent in her house was blocked by snow drifts, allowing carbon monoxide to accumulate in the home.
Disposing of detectors needs to be done properly, Spanknebel said. One such place this can be done is at a haphazard waste disposal event.
“When it’s time to get rid of your outdated alarms, please do it responsibly,” Spanknebel said.
Many detectors use lithium-ion batteries which power hundreds of devices at home, work and school. Sealed battery smoke alarms should not go into household trash or recycling, a common cause for fires at trash and transfer stations, Spanknebel said.
“If they’re damaged they can go into thermal runaway, a rapid and violent chain reaction with sparks flames and even an explosion,” he said.
Easthampton Fire Department will soon host a detector-installation event on Tuesday, Nov. 18, with additional details to be released. For more information with assistance choosing, installing and disposing detectors, contact your local fire department. The chiefs recommended visiting Call2Recycle, for more information about how to dispose of batteries.
“Working smoke alarms can be the difference between life and death,” Spanknebel said.