Smoke detectors should be checked during Fire Prevention Week

MASON CITY — Fire Prevention Week is a good time to check your smoke detector’s batteries or to update your unit.

Derek Smit of the Mason City Fire Department says those batteries should be updated every six months.  “We definitely recommend twice a year changing your smoke detector batteries out. They do offer sealed battery smoke detectors now, which is another great option, that have a ten-year life span. At the end of the life of a detector, you’ll just replace the detector, so that’s another great option.”

Smit says the statistics show smoke detectors save lives.   “Over the last ten years, over 58% of the fatalities in structure fires in Iowa, the homes either had no smoke detectors or non-working smoke detectors at the time. So it’s definitely important to have those smoke detectors in place. Make sure you have enough, one for every room in your house, and to make sure they are in working order.”