Time to check your smoke alarms -- in Tumwater

It’s Fire Protection Week, but not only in Tumwater

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Tumwater’s Fire Chief Brian Hurley reminded residents to regularly check their fire alarms during the Tumwater city council meeting yesterday.

During the discussion, the Fire Chief shared fire safety precautions,  including the importance of smoke alarms. Hurley explained that residents should be more aware of the sound of their smoke alarms, reminding them that three beeps indicate the presence of smoke or fire, while four beeps (on some devices) indicate the presence of carbon monoxide.

Hurley also shared that smoke alarms should be replaced every ten years, with many units requiring battery replacement every two years. The fire chief also noted that it is recommended that people test their fire alarms every month, and practice a fire escape plan.

He explained that these simple safety precautions can make a difference between life and death in emergencies, “Almost three out of five home fire deaths occur in homes without a working smoke alarm,” he cautioned. Hurley invited Tumwater residents to feel free to call the fire department if they need any help with their smoke alarms. The headquarters phone is 360-754-4170.

The discussion was a part of Tumwater’s Fire Prevention Week Proclamation starting from Sun., Oct 3 to Sat., Oct. 9. In the city’s proclamation, Councilmember Leatta Dahlhoff read that in 2019, fire departments in the United States responded to more than one million fire incidents. These resulted in 3,700 deaths and 16,600 injuries. She reported that in 2020, the Tumwater Fire Department responded to 27 structure fires.

Dahlhoff added that the proclamation serves as proof of the city’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of its residents as it recognizes fire as a serious public safety concern.

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