Did you know during a typical home fire, you may have as little as one to two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds? That’s why West Pierce Fire & Rescue is teaming up with NFPA during the month of October to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Month campaign, “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety.”  This year’s campaign focuses on the importance of knowing the different sounds your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms make, how to keep your family safe and knowing your escape plan.

Learn the Sounds!

• A continuous set of three 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.
• Make sure your smoke and CO alarms meet the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.

Escape planning and practice can help you make the most of the time you have, giving everyone enough time to get out. Making sure there are two ways out of every room is essential for fire escape planning.

We encourage all residents to create an escape plan. Taking just 15 minutes to complete the task could save your life. Be sure to visit our escape planning webpage with more information about how to create a family escape plan and what you should include in it.

As you create your escape plan, you’ll notice how important smoke alarms are.

Do you have working smoke alarms in your home?
Are they less than 10 years old?
Do you have them inside and outside each sleeping area?

If you answered no, please call us and we can visit your home to assess your smoke alarm needs. We can install or replace smoke alarms as needed in your home at no cost. Please call us at 253.983.4583  or visit our Smoke Alarm Program webpage to schedule an appointment!