October 1, 2021

2021: The Sounds of Fire Safety Learn the Sounds!

In a fire, mere seconds can mean the difference between a safe escape and a tragedy. Fire safety education isn’t just for school children. Teenagers, adults, and the elderly are also at risk in fires, making it important for every member of the community to take some time every October during Fire Prevention Week to make sure they understand how to stay safe in case of a fire.

Are you and your family familiar with all the different sounds the smoke, carbon monoxide alarms and fire sprinklers make? Knowing what to do when an alarm sounds, or you hear water flowing will keep you and your family safe. When an alarm makes noises – a beeping sound or a chirping sound – you must take action. When there is the sound of water flowing in and adjacent room – you must take action.

What is your alarm telling you?

SMOKE ALARMS – Hear three beeps get on your feet

A continued set ofthree loud beeps—beep, beep, beep—means

smoke or fire. Get out, call 9-1-1, and stay out.

A single “chirp” every 30 or 60 seconds means the battery is

low and must be changed.

All smoke alarms must be replaced after 10 years.
Chirping that continues after the battery has been replaced

means the alarm is at the end of its life and the unit must be

replaced.

CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) ALARMS – Hear a chirp, make a change

A continuous set offour loud beeps—beep, beep, beep,

beep—means carbon monoxide is present in your home.

Go outside, call 9-1-1 and stay out.

A single chirp every 30 or 60 seconds means the battery is low

and must be replaced.

CO alarms also have “end of life” sounds that vary by

manufacturer. This means it’s time to get a new CO alarm.

Chirping that continues after the battery has been replaced means

the alarm is at the end of its life and

the unit must be replaced.

RESIDENTIAL FIRE SPRINKLERS – Hear water flowing, it’s time to get going

A continuous sound of running water – a sprinkler head has activated because there is fire present in the room. Get out of the house, call 911.

Residential fire sprinkler systems are designed to buy you time to get out of the house safely.

Smoke from the fire will not set off the sprinkler head, only the heat from the fire.

When there is fire present in the room on the fire sprinkler head closest to the fire will activate, NOT all the fire sprinkler heads in the home.

Fire sprinklers will use 300-400 gallons of water to control the fire. If the fire goes unchecked and is allowed to grow the fire department will need a few thousand gallons to extinguish the fire.

Fire Sprinklers Save Lives and Property. Fire Sprinklers can reduce the risk of dying
in a fire by 80%

Property damage is reduced
by 70% when sprinklers
are present

Home fire sprinklers can control and may even extinguish a fire in less time than it would take the fire department to arrive

The average cost of installing sprinklers in a new home is only $1.35 per sprinklered square foot (People often pay more per foot for granite countertops)

Don’t Become a Fire Statistic

Fire doesn’t discriminate.  It can strike at any time and take the innocent lives of children, adults, seniors and pets. Sadly, since January, 38 people have lost their lives in home fires in N.J..

Whether you live in a condo, townhome, apartment, single or multi-family home, learning about fire safety and putting fire prevention tips into practice can save lives. 

And installing fire sprinklers in your home can reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by 80 percent and reduce property loss by 70 percent.

Keep your family and home fire-safe

There are a tremendous amount of resources designed for people of all ages from children to seniors to help improve fire safety.  During Fire Prevention Month, please make safety a priority and take a few minutes to review the tips, information, and resources below and then incorporate them into your own fire prevention routine.