Smoke detectors

Smoke alarms that are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing fire deaths and injuries. Having a working smoke alarm cuts the chances of dying in a reported fire in half.

• A 2008 survey found that 96% of U.S. households had at least one smoke alarm, yet in 2003-2006, no smoke alarms were present or none operated in two out of the five (41%) of the reported home fires.
• Almost two-thirds of reported home fire deaths in 2003-2006 resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
• When smoke alarms fail to operate, it is usually because batteries are missing, disconnected or dead.

Source: NFPA's " Smoke Alarms in U.S. Home Fires", by Marty Ahrens, September 2009

Also see: Fact sheet on smoke alarm types, nuisance alarms, and more (PDF, 650 KB)
Also see: Fact sheet on smoke alarms in reported U.S. home fires  (PDF, 94 KB)