• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Fires/Accidents/Disasters / Fire Marshal says many smoke detectors lack batteries

Fire Marshal says many smoke detectors lack batteries

August 20, 2008 By admin

smoke alarm There have been 28 fire fatalities in Iowa this year and officials say 10 of the cases involved a home that did not have a working smoke detector.

State Fire Marshal Jim Kenkel says investigators are finding too many smoke detectors in charred houses that have no battery. He says the average price for a two pack of 9-volt batteries is $5.50.

"Batteries are reasonably inexpensive for a life-safety type of issue," Kenkel said. He encourages homeowners to test their smoke detectors once a month and change the batteries once a year. "It all boils down to people need to have early warning of a fire," Kenkel said. "The best early warning is to have a smoke detector and a plan of escape."

The 28 fire deaths so far this year compares to 30 fatalities in Iowa during all of last year. Kenkel says there’s no clear cut explanation for the increase in fatal fires, but many lives could’ve been saved if the home had a working alarm.

Kenkel says homeowners should never remove smoke alarm batteries to use them in games or toys – or to avoid the noise of the alarm when someone’s burned food in the kitchen. Beginning October 1st, all new homes and buildings constructed in Iowa will be required to have dual-sensored smoke detectors. Kenkel says the devices can detect both slow, smoldering type fires and fires that contain fast moving, intense flames.

AUDIO: Radio Iowa’s Pat Curtis report on fire deaths. :31 MP3

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Fires/Accidents/Disasters

Featured Stories

Grundy Center man sentenced to life for killing State Trooper

Jodi Husientruit remembered 27 years after she disappeared

Iowa Supreme Court rules in Mahaska-Marion County regional airport dispute

Pheasant harvest and hunter numbers both up this year

Iowa Supreme Court overturns ruling creating constitutional abortion right

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Radio Iowa/Baseball Coaches Association High School Poll 6/27/22

AJ Green signs with Milwaukee

Iowa to host Georgia Tech in ACC/Big Ten Challenge

Iowa State adds a defensive back

Radio Iowa/Baseball Coaches Association High School Poll 6/20/22

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2022 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC