SMOKE ALARMS & FIRE
CHANHASSEN FIRE DEPARTMENT
Smoke alarms are a key part of a home fire escape plan. When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast. Working smoke alarms give you an early warning so you can get outside quickly. Safety Tips for Smoke Alarms at Home
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reduce false alarms. They should be at least 10 feet (3 meters) from the stove. People who are hard of hearing or deaf can use special alarms. These alarms have strobe lights and bed shakers. Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old. Check the backside for the manufacturing date. Most modern smoke alarms can also make a chirping sound: one chirp per minute may mean you have a low battery; three chirps means the alarm is malfunctioning and five chirps signals that the alarm is due for replacement soon. What can cause a false alarm? Smoke from burnt food or cooking Fireplace smoke or outdoor campfires blowing indoors
Alarm due for a replacement
Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, as well as in the basement. Large homes may need extra smoke alarms. It is best to use interconnected smoke alarms. When one smoke alarm sounds, they all sound. Test all smoke alarms at least once a month. Press the test button to be sure the alarm is working. Replace batteries when needed. Current alarms on the market employ different types of technology, including multi-sensing, which could combine smoke and carbon monoxide. These types of alarms may only last 7-10 years. Today’s smoke alarms will be more technologically advanced to respond to a multitude of fire conditions, yet mitigate false alarms. A smoke alarm should be placed on the ceiling or high on a wall. Keep smoke alarms away from the kitchen to
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A closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat and fire. Smoke alarms should be installed inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level. Smoke alarms should be connected so that when one sounds, they all sound. Most homes do not have this level of protection. Roughly three out of five fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
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Smoke Alarm Disposal: When you need to dispose of your smoke or CO alarm, you may throw away the alarm and battery in your regular garbage (if you can physically remove the battery). If you are not able to remove a battery because it has a circuit board, it may have a lithium-ion battery and hazardous waste in it. In that case, you may take it to the Carver County Environmental Center located in Chaska. They encourage residents to call (952) 361-1835 if they have any battery disposal questions.
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Steam and high humidity
Low battery life
Excess dust or debris
Chemicals
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Bugs
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CITY OF CHANHASSEN | FALL 2025
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