The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY)  is urging St. Lawrence County residents and other New Yorkers to take note of basic fire safety tips and advice that can help save lives. In particular, FASNY asks that all New Yorkers ensure their smoke alarms are in proper working order so that they and their families are protected against fire.

Fire Prevention Month is underway, and Fire Prevention Week (Oct 7-13) is rapidly approaching.

FASNY encourages residents to install smoke alarms equipped with sealed-in, non-removable batteries that last for 10 years. These alarms do not require any battery changes during their lifespan and are nearly impossible to disable.

Most fatal fires happen between midnight and 8 a.m., and it takes only a few moments for fire to spread through a house, FASNY said in a news release. Occupants of a burning home may only have minutes to escape before being overcome by the smoke and flames. Working smoke alarms help ensure that people are awakened and able to take advantage of those precious minutes.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, three of every five home fire deaths occur in homes without smoke alarms or working smoke alarms. Firefighters frequently encounter smoke alarms with missing or dead batteries, meaning these homes are defenseless against fire.

“According to the United States Fire Administration, New York State currently ranks second in the nation for civilian fire deaths in 2018, and winter, frequently the busiest time of the year for home fires, is coming,” said FASNY President Steven Klein.

In December 2015, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation banning the sale of smoke alarms equipped with removeable batteries. This is an important step in the effort to reduce fire deaths in New York. The legislation takes effect in April of 2019.

Smoke Alarm Tips from the NFPA: Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home, in each bedroom, and near all sleeping areas; test smoke alarms monthly to make sure they’re working. Replace smoke alarms that are more than 10 years old; interconnect your smoke alarms so that when one smoke alarm sounds, they all do.

Founded in 1872, the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) represents the interests of the approximately 105,000 volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel in New York State.  For more information, visit www.fasny.com.