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A few words from the
Fire Marshal - that just might save your life!! |
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| In a letter dated December 27th, 2008
that the Fire Marshal sent to all management and rental companies that
have properties here on Sanibel regarding Smoke Detectors: |
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| Dear Owners and Rental Managers: |
| This letter is in response to the large
number of inoperable and missing smoke detectors that are being
discovered in condominiums; that have been remodeled in the past years. |
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| Some condominiums units in the past were
built with a fire-burglar alarm system. These units are being
disconnected by the owners; because of false alarms on the burglar alarm
side of the system. Many of the owners did not realize; that they
were also shutting down the power to their smoke detectors at the same
time. |
| This past September
of 2008, a fire
occurred in an unoccupied condominium, that went unnoticed because of
this problem. Luckily, the fire-burglar alarm system in the unit
above the unit with the fire was being monitored, when smoke entered that
unit and the fire department was notified, but the damage was already
done in the unit below with the fire. |
| The flame damage was confined to a
dehumidifier, but there was very heavy smoke damage through out the unit
from the burning plastic housing and wiring of the appliance. |
| The unit with
the fire had been without an operating smoke detector, for 4 to 5 years;
due to the fact that the owner had actually removed the fire-burglar
control panel not realizing that it also contained the smoke detector
system too. |
| If that fire unit
itself had been occupied at the
time of the fire, which occurred around 5:30AM, there could have been
fire deaths. |
| I have found some condominiums that have
been without operating smoke detectors; for 10 years or longer, just
because no one took a few seconds to push the test button. |
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| Many older condominium units (built
before 1980), may be using battery operated smoke detectors and need to
have the battery replaced once a year. Too many times the
batteries are being removed and not being replaced by a renter or
the owner; when the smoke detector goes into alarm or when it sends a
warning of a low battery. |
| A large number of smoke detectors are
connected to 110 volt household power and I have found them either
disconnected or just not working at all. |
| Smoke detectors that are battery operated
or connected to household power; only have a life expectance of 5 to 10
years. If the smoke detector is not being checked on a regular
schedule; the unit itself may sit there for years without any protection
at all, for the unit or for the occupants. This situation could lead to a loss of
property or more important the loss of a life. |
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| All condominium, apartment and rental
units need to have their smoke detectors tested by their owners or the
rental management companies as soon as possible and after that; on a
regular schedule, as recommended by the smoke detector manufacturer. |
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| Please, do not hesitate to call me, if
you have any questions or if you need assistance with the testing or the
location placement of your smoke detectors. |
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| **As the Fire Marshal was completing this
letter, there was another fire; this one on December 28th of 2008.
It was in a single family home located on Lindgren Boulevard, here on
Sanibel. There were no smoke detectors in this home. |
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If you think about it
smoke detectors just might be the cheapest life and property protection
you can buy
why not keep them working |
