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Could a smoke alarm become the fire brigade’s enemy?

Avatar of Rédaction feuxdeforet.fr
Rédaction feuxdeforet.fr
3 min read

Since 8 March 2015, all homes must be fitted with a stand-alone smoke alarm. This requirement has been welcomed by the French fire service, which responds to more than 300,000 fires every year.

Almost four years on, smoke alarms have saved lives. As press reports show, this is beyond doubt. However, one aspect that is just as important as their installation is often overlooked: their maintenance.

Dust: the leading cause

In fact, firefighters are increasingly being called out by neighbours who are worried or disturbed by the sound of a smoke alarm going off whilst the occupants are away. As a result, the fire brigade turns out in force, expecting the worst, to investigate. All too often, it turns out to be a false alarm, caused by a lack of maintenance.

There are a few reasons why a smoke alarm might go off unexpectedly. The first is the most common. Over time, dust gets into the smoke alarm’s optical sensor. Eventually, this build-up will be mistaken for smoke and set off the alarm.

I've had enough

"Not a week goes by without my team being called out at least once because of a smoke alarm going off accidentally", laments a fire officer who is in charge of a major emergency services centre. "Of course, smoke alarms save lives. They will never be seen as the enemy of the fire service. Quite the opposite! However, it is becoming urgent to raise public awareness about the maintenance of smoke alarms." he adds, fearing widespread discontent.

A lack of maintenance is one of the causes. There is also the issue of location, which must be chosen carefully, and the batteries, which must be replaced in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.