Fire Safe Seniors

Prevention - Education - Security

Fire Safe Seniors

Joseph Chen 2023 #3 Lowres

Fire Safe Seniors

Smoke detectors are a critical first line of defense against fire.

Proper installation, maintenance, and testing can save lives.

We install FREE smoke and carbon monoxide alarms for homeowners (62+).

Need a smoke alarm or know of someone who does? Let us know.

 

California Requirements

  • Who Must Comply:
    Law requires smoke detectors in all dwelling units intended for human habitation, including single-family homes, multi-family units, and apartments.
  • Installation Requirements:
    Requirements vary by:

    • Type of building (single-family vs. multi-family)
    • Number of units
    • Number of stories
  • Power Source:
    Smoke detectors may be hardwired to household current but must have backup batteries to operate during power outages. Battery-only detectors are also permitted in some dwellings.

How Smoke Detectors Work

  • Smoke is composed of tiny particles that rise with hot air from a fire.
  • Smoke detectors sense these particles and trigger an alarm to alert occupants.
  • Unlike carbon monoxide, smoke rises to the ceiling and spreads upward and outward, often moving under doors and into hallways and other rooms.

Key Difference from CO:

  • CO gas spreads more uniformly throughout a home, while smoke travels upward, often requiring multiple smoke detectors to provide adequate coverage.

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How We Help Our Community

I feel more at ease knowing my 94-year-old mother has a working smoke alarm in her home. As a senior living alone, I can feel confident knowing these alarms will alert her to danger."
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Daughter of Participant
Fire-Safe Senior
I think our students needed to hear that information. I don't think they had been taught this before. They remembered the information because we had a guest firefighter come in the next day and they told him all about stop, drop and roll, back of the hand to the door, and to get out 2 ways."
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Teacher Participant
Fire-Safe Kids
My husband and I did not have any working fire alarms or carbon monoxide detectors. We are grateful for those who made it possible for us to have these important safety features in our home now. The installers were very kind. Thank you for your generous help."
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Program Participant
Fire-Safe Seniors
Many of our students do not have family structures that prepare them for fire safety. For some of them, this is the only information they have gotten."
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Teacher Participant
Fire-Safe Kids