Community Risk Reduction Weekend! Know The New Smoke Alarm Law

This weekend, May 14-15, has been designated by the State Fire Marshal, the Maryland Chief’s Association and the Maryland State Fireman’s Association as a Statewide “Community Risk Reduction” weekend for fire departments across the State.

Fire departments across Maryland will be engaged in community outreach, education and canvassing neighborhoods to provide smoke alarm and fire safety information and education. The focus of the campaign is to increase awareness regarding Maryland’s new Smoke Alarm Law (effective January, 2018) and to remind all residents that smoke alarms older than 10 years need to be replaced with new ones.

All MCFRS personnel and stations, to support the State’s campaign, will be engaged in community outreach and education at every opportunity over the course of the weekend. You may see our firefighters in your neighborhood to include athletic and park venues, as well as grocery, home improvement, and big box stores.

If you happen come across one of our firefighters, you will more than likely receive the below handout. Please take a brief moment to review this important, and potential lifesaving, information.

We also want to remind every Montgomery County family to plan and practice your escape routes together to help ensure everyone knows how to get out safely in the event a fire occurs in your home. Go here to learn more: Home Fire Escape Planning

Maryland Updates Smoke Alarm Law

Maryland’s new smoke alarm law requires the replacement of all BATTERY-ONLY operated smoke alarms with units powered by sealed-in, 10-year long-life batteries.

Homeowners have until January 1, 2018 to comply with the new law.

Please check out more below:

For a pdf or Word copy of this, please EMAIL HERE

Time to "Retire" Your Old Smoke Alarms?

Courtesy of NFPA

I wanted to make sure all of you knew that smoke alarms need to have a retirement plan - as most of us do. Once your alarms reach the ripe old age of 10, they are eligible for "retirement" and need to be replaced by a new generation of smoke alarms.

Even if your 10 year old, or older, smoke alarm still sounds when you push the test button, it should be replaced.

To learn more about smoke alarms, please go here: Smoke Alarms

To learn how to properly dispose of a smoke alarm, please go here: How to recycle/dispose of smoke alarms

For those with battery powered alarms, please go here to learn about Maryland's Updated Smoke Alarm Law.

Stay Safe!

BD