CONSUMER WATCH

Here's how to make sure your smoke alarms work, and how to choose the right ones for each job.

With the arrival of fall, fire officials urge residents to make sure homes have working smoke alarms.

The devices can be purchased for less than $5, providing the first line of defense in a structure fire, said Kelly Keenan, chief of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection's Amador-El Dorado Unit.

But Keenan pointed out that not all smoke alarms are alike. Alarms should be selected based on where they will be located and the specific needs of household members.

Officials suggest you consider these key points:

• Photo-electric smoke alarms are better at sensing smoldering fires because these fires produce large smoke particles.

A smoldering fire may burn for hours before bursting into flames. These fires often are caused by a cigarette, dropped match or stick of incense burning in a couch or bedding.

• Ionization smoke alarms are better at sensing small smoke particles, usually produced by a flaming fire that is burning items fast and spreading quickly. This may be caused by a grease fire or a garbage can that caught fire.

If your current smoke alarm goes off when you cook, consider replacing it with a photo-electric smoke alarm and placing the ionization alarm away from the kitchen.

• Consider interconnecting smoke alarms. Although this is more expensive, it allows one smoke alarm to "talk" to others by a hardwired system or wireless technology. If one alarm senses smoke, it will relay the information and activate all alarms in the home.

• For households with hearing-impaired family members, consider smoke alarm systems that use extra loud signaling combined with a bright strobe light to alert those sleeping.

You can also install vibrating pager systems that transmit to hardware placed on bed frames, under pillows, or to specialized wristwatches. Check the Yellow Pages under "fire protection services" for specialized equipment and seek competitive bids.

• For households with children, some studies suggest that smoke alarms which allow a parent to record his or her voice instead of the common "beep" are more effective in rousing children from deep sleep.

Fire officials report that 51 percent of residential structure fires resulting in fire deaths occur between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., and 55 percent of these deaths occur in the bedroom.

Cal Fire spokeswoman Teri Mizuhara said smoke alarms should be installed in each bedroom, in the hallway outside the bedrooms and on each floor of a residence.

Smoke alarm batteries should be tested monthly and changed twice a year – typically when you change your clocks at the beginning and end of daylight savings time. Smoke alarms should be replaced at least every 10 years.

"If you're not sure how old your smoke alarm is – or if that white plastic has turned yellow – replace it with what you can afford," Mizuhara said.

– Cathy Locke

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