Story by
Navy Region Hawai’i Safety Office

Fire is one of the leading causes of accidental deaths. It’s important for everyone to take every preventative measure and precaution possible to be ready to deal with a fire emergency.

More than half of all fatal household fires occur between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when everyone in the home is usually asleep. A smoke alarm is necessary to alert you to fires when you are asleep. Smoke alarms detect the earliest stages of combustion to allow enough time to evacuate the home safely.

For minimum protection, detectors must be placed between the living areas and the sleeping areas to intercept smoke before it reaches the bedrooms. In multi-storied homes, detectors should be located on the ceilings of stairwells to separate the floor levels. However, the location of the smoke alarm in the vicinity of sleeping areas does not provide protection for the occupants from a fire starting in their bedroom with the door closed. It may be wise to have additional alarms within each bedroom itself, especially if you smoke. A closed door can delay the movement of smoke preventing it from reaching a smoke detector, so place smoke alarms in hallways.

Fire confined to a large room often develops great intensity before it breaks out. The basement is one area that can be large, removed from the alarm, and isolated by some type of door closure at the top of the stairs. Because basements do account for a significant number of fires, it is recommended a smoke alarm be placed at the head of the stairs from the basement.

Smoke detectors should be located on or near the ceiling, away from doors and other obstructions. Avoid air currents from doors, windows, fans and vents because turbulent air may prevent combustion particles from reaching the alarm. Before installing, read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Smoke detectors are a small price to pay for a good and safe night’s sleep for you and your family.