Camano Island campaign spreads word about smoke alarms

CAMANO ISLAND — If you live here, you might see a fire truck or two in your neighborhood today.

Firefighters from Camano Island Fire and Rescue teamed up with Boy Scouts this weekend to help people change batteries in their smoke alarms.

The goal was to reach older people in the community who may need help switching out the batteries, and to educate them about fire safety, Assistant Chief Levon Yengoyan said.

A working smoke alarm can provide warning in time to escape a burning house, he said.

On Saturday afternoon, firefighters set up shop in the quiet Camaloch neighborhood. The fire department promoted the event through the local senior center and newspapers, and most people who needed new batteries signed up in advance to have crews come by their house.

Volunteer firefighter Rusty Pfeiffer heard about other communities doing similar events and rallied to organize one on the island. The local shopping center, Camano Plaza, matched the fire department’s funds for the batteries. Boy Scouts from two local troops signed up to help.

“They are really digging it,” Pfeiffer said.

Caleb Farb, 13, of Camano Island, sat in a fire truck with another Scout, waiting for an opportunity to help.

“I kind of like doing this for people so they can be safer,” he said.

As of Saturday afternoon, Pfeiffer’s team went into a half-dozen houses. They offered to look around the house and suggest to residents where additional smoke detectors should be installed and to point out any fire hazards.

“Half the houses we stopped by did not have smoke alarms in the bedrooms,” Pfeiffer said.

He urged people to practice a fire escape plan as well, so all family members know what to do if an alarm sounds.

In three homes, the smoke alarms needed to be replaced. Some people hadn’t touched their smoke detectors in years.

Fire officials recommend replacing the detectors every 10 years and changing batteries at least once a year.

Some homes on the island were built before smoke alarms were required, Yengoyan said. People often don’t bother, or simply don’t know, to install them.

As part of a countywide campaign sponsored by the Snohomish County Fire Prevention Association, Snohomish County Fire District 1 installed 130 smoke alarms and changed 32 batteries on March 13, spokeswoman Leslie Hynes said. In Marysville, firefighters installed 104 smoke alarms and replaced more than 150 batteries, fire department spokeswoman Kristen Thorstenson said. Both departments targeted mobile home parks.

In Ila King’s house on Camano Island, the smoke detector in the hallway needed fixing. Pfeiffer recommended that King have new smoke alarms installed in each bedroom and one in the living room, where, in case of a fire, smoke could gather beneath the high ceiling. King said she was going to follow the advice.

“You want to have your house safe,” she said.

Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452, kyefimova@heraldnet.com

Where they go

Smoke detectors should be installed in all sleeping areas and on every level of the home, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Test the device monthly by pushing the “test” button.

Smoke rises, so smoke alarms should be installed high on the wall or on the ceiling. People who are hearing-impaired can find smoke detectors with flashing lights and vibration.

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