EASTON, Pa. – Are your smoke detectors working?
If you’re not sure, the Easton Fire Department will check and install them for free.
“Typically, when the clocks change is when you check your batteries,” said Easton Fire Chief Henry Hennings.
Hennings said they offer a 10-year lithium-ion battery smoke detector and a combination smoke and carbon monoxide detector.
Free smoke detectors for residents with hearing impairment are also available. It’s all thanks to a federal grant they received.
“There should be a smoke detector in every bedroom and outside the hallway, and then one on each floor,” said Hennings. “If you have a garage that’s attached to your house throughout the home, we would typically just do the smoke detectors. But if there’s an area where you have either fossil fuel power appliances or a garage or something along those lines, then we’d install the combination smoke and carbon monoxide detector.”
Installation services are available specifically for homeowners upon request, but Easton Fire Lieutenant Ian Insley said the department wants to ensure everyone has working smoke detectors.
“If there are residents that are in rental properties that don’t have working smoke detectors, they can also give us a call and we can facilitate assisting them,” said Insley.
Residents can sign up through the Easton Community Connect program (HYPERLINK!!: https://www.communityconnect.io/info/pa-easton).
“As much or as little information as the homeowners, residents or business owners feel comfortable putting in. It all helps us. The more information we can get, the better,” said Insley. “So that we’re not trying to figure it out when we get there. And that helps. That buys us vital time that then we can focus on other things once we’re on scene.”
Firefighters said they have installed more than 200 smoke detectors for residents.
Insley has some advice for residents to make the installation process smoother.
“Sometimes it’s a little difficult to get through hallways, navigate bedrooms, things like that. So just kind of clearing things out, making sure we have good paths to walk through while we’re doing the installs. That’s the biggest thing, and also for homeowners: to have a basic understanding of where their mechanicals are in the home,” said Insley.
Along with your working smoke detectors, you’re also reminded to close your bedroom doors at night, using the “close before you doze program”.
“It manages to keep the heat and smoke out for a pretty decent amount of time, which gives us the opportunity to get there, and if we have to effect rescue, come in and get you,” Hennings said.
“The faster that the residents know, the faster they can get out, the faster they can notify us, the faster we can get there to help,” Insley added.
If you suspect an emergency, officials said call 911 right away.