RE: Chimney fire . . . and no smoke detectors

That does seem crazy. I have two and have been considering adding more. I had one mess up on me the other day. The low battery beep started, so I swapped in spare batteries and no change? This was odd seeming to me and my wife was concerned we would have no smoke alarm in the basement where the stove is. No problem I told her and pulled out a new/spare from the cupboard, confirmed it was within date still and good to go.

I got frustrated a little while back that all my smokes seemed to take different batteries so I ordered 5 new ones from Amazon.
Easy to do, they were getting old, affordable peace of mind.

All the smoke alarms I've ever had take two 9v batteries, so I've not had an issue with that. But now I have no spare so will be watching for them to come on sale before stocking up. I have two working ones one on each floor that I love to test on a regular basis. It freaks my wife and kid right out. Lol.

firefighterjake said:

Exactly how old are they ...,it's been a long time since I've seen smoke detectors use anything but 9 volts.

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They were 5+ years old.
Mw ones are all AA batteries. First alert ionization and photocell. Part of their selling point to me were the AA, cause the only thing in the house still using 9V were the smokes.

That would be more convenient for sure. I wonder if they'll last nearly as long as the 9v?

I can kind of see the no smoke detectors, I'm 35 and grew up in a house without them, I'm not sure when they became commonplace or law but if it was an older person that has lived in the house forever I could definitely see them not having them either for lack of knowing any better or being "old school" and saying "pfffttt I'll smell the smoke" I still don't think my folks have smoke detectors despite me telling them numerous times that they should get them...............now I'm thinking I will buy some and put them up for them.

That's crazy man. Just do it for them. I've been in wood burning homes my whole life(41) and I don't ever recall not having them. I couldn't imagine it. I have always thought, heard, and was taught that it would be easy to be overcome by smoke in a deep sleep. Or by the time it woke you it be to late to make it out.

Smoke alarms, CO alarms. Cheap insurance and the very least that should be done.

We review fire safety and our escape plans atleast every fall and honestly it's discussed more often than that.

I would never have a home without wood heat, but I'll never take it for granted.

I here you guys loud and clear. This just kind of brought this back to light for me, I will definitely be buying and installing some smoke and co detectors for them.

We had a chimney fire call last night, nothing was showing, lite smoke condition upon arrival but a quick investigation led us to believe that this was not a chimney fire but a Darwin award winner operation. The homeowner couldn't get his insert to stay lit so he got more news paper and a few fire starters and lit the stove, he left the door cracked open and yelled to his older kid that he was running out, watch the stove. I guess the kid either thought that the stove was running normal or he forgot what his father said, never the less sparks jumped out of the open door and due to a poor hearth design with bad clearances a ember came out and the carpet started to smolder believe it or not but from the under side up.
We cut the carpet section out, cleaned the ashes out, and ran the chains down the chimney, we pulled (4) 5 gal metal buckets of crap out of the chimney.
The neighbor came by to see if everything was ok, and asked what happened, one of the other guys said chimney fire, she kinda laughed and said that this was the 3rd time in 5 years we have been to this house due to chimney fires.

BRK makes wireless ones that connect with each other. If your carbon monoxide alarm goes off in the basement, your bedroom one will tell you. They are a little pricey but I did my whole house for about $250. You want a smoke/carbon combo on each floor. A smoke within 10 feet of every bedroom door and a smoke in each bedroom. The NFPA has diagrams of exactly where they should be placed.

Here is the model of the smoke: http://www.brkelectronics.com/product/SA511B
Here is the smoke/carbon combo: http://www.brkelectronics.com/product/SCO500B

Speaking of smoke alarms - 3 nights ago one of our Dyer Co SO deputies was asleep in his house along with his dog. The deputy is single and only has a dog. Short story - House Fire - total loss, house full of smoke, alarms working, deputy is awakened only because his dog pawed his face to wake him. Origin of fire: GM Hummer parked in garage, electrical short.
Outcome: Deputy and canine are fine. Personal property 100% loss, SO car, weapons, all issued equipment total loss.
Message: If you are a sound sleeper, get more fire alarms and be sure one is in the bedroom with a secondary siren/bell or whatever will awaken you! (and if you have a Hummer, consider parking it on the neighbors driveway! )

You don't even have to mess with batteries anymore. They have ones now with a 10 year battery in it. Even if it lasts 9 years, that's a lot of batteries you aren't changing.