With over half of fatalities occurring at night while people are sleeping, it is imperative that people protect themselves against the dangers of sleeping through a fire. Smoke inhalation is the most common actual cause of death, and people often never wake up or know the eminent danger they are faced with. As many as 85% of people who suffered death from fire, lived in homes which either had no smoke detector or had one that was not functioning properly. Sadly, over half these deaths could have been avoided with the proper use of home smoke detectors that were maintained and replaced as needed. Changing batteries regularly and purchasing new smoke detectors at least every ten years are some of the easiest ways to protect your family from the dangers of a fire.

The danger of smoke inhalation is evident and public education programs continue to provide valuable information to consumers; however, there is still a great lack of proper use of smoke detectors when they are present. When smoke detectors are present, they are most often not functional. Some studies estimate as many as one in three home smoke detectors are not functioning properly.

With all this information available, it is astounding that there is not a properly functioning smoke detector in every home in the United States. Where smoke detectors are used and maintained, there may also be a shortage in numbers needed in the home. For proper protection, it is vital to understand how many are needed, where to locate them, and how to maintain and replace them before they fail. The most common cause of failure is lack of batteries or dead batteries, and malfunctioning units that are old or damaged. Many people die each year because of missing batteries and inoperable smoke detectors.

Smoke detectors that are directly wired into the existing electrical system are referred to as hardwired. A hardwired smoke detector may take more time to install; however, they often do not require the time investment for maintaining batteries. You may need to hire an electrician to install them, which could be costly, but you will never have to worry about the smoke detector failing to sound due to dead batteries. There are hardwired models available that also take batteries, so that you are protected in the event of a power outage. Hardwired provides a more consistent result, because the human error factor is removed.


We are always happy to answer any questions you may have and recommend the placement of smoke detectors for your protection. Don't be afraid to ask for our assistance.
The Bellows Falls Fire Dept as well as the State of Vermont requires that all smoke detectors installed in properties other than single family be of the hardwired variety with battery backup for additional protection in the event of power loss. That includes all two family or more.Be aware also that all new & replacement smokes be of the photo-electric type-not ionization, which have been used predominently in the past.