Henrico Times

Chesterfield County issued the following announcement on Oct. 5

In the wake of three house fires earlier this year that resulted in nine fatalities, including six children, Chesterfield Fire and EMS is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety.”  

Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 3-9, aims to educate everyone about simple but vital actions they can take to keep themselves and their families safe.

“It’s important to learn the different sounds of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. When an alarm makes noise—a beeping sound or a chirping sound—you must take action,” said Chesterfield Fire and EMS Chief Edward L. “Loy” Senter. “Make sure everyone in the home understands the sounds of the alarms and knows how to respond.”

2021 has been a tragic year in the county’s history for residential fires. Six family members, four of whom were age 12 or younger, were killed when their Glass Road home caught fire in April. Two children, ages 8 and 4, died in a house fire on Flynn Road in August. There also was a fatal fire at the Shady Hill mobile home park in August.

Chesterfield Fire and EMS encourages all county residents to embrace this year’s Fire Prevention Week theme, and offers the following tips to help you “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety”:

• Make sure you have at least one working smoke alarm on every level of your home
• A continuous set of loud beeps from the alarm—BEEP, BEEP, BEEP—means smoke or fire. Get out immediately, stay out and call 9-1-1
• A single chirp every 30 or 60 seconds means the battery is low and must be changed
• Chirping or beeping that continues when there is no smoke present or after the battery has been replaced indicates the unit is at the end of its life and must be replaced
• Note, all smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years
• Also, be mindful that your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms meet the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities

“Is there a beep or a chirp coming from your smoke or carbon monoxide alarm? Knowing the difference can save you, your family and your home,” Senter added.

To learn the sounds made by your specific smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, check the manufacturer’s instructions that came in the box, or search the brand and model online.

For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and fire prevention in general, visit www.fpw.org.

Original source can be found here.

Source: Chesterfield County