Millburn Fire Officials: Don’t Skimp, Avoid Cheap Smoke Detectors

MILLBURN, NJ — Is your smoke detector UL-certified? If you don’t know the answer to this question, it’s time to do a quick check of your home, Millburn fire officials say.

It could save your life.

The Millburn Fire Department recently announced that it is partnering with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to educate the public about the necessity of using UL-certified smoke detectors.

“Recently, the MFD went out on a fire alarm call and [firefighters] discovered that the smoke detectors on the premises did not work properly,” Millburn fire officials stated in a news release. “Further investigation revealed that the devices were not certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the leading worldwide safety science consulting and certification firm.”

According to Millburn fire officials, the smoke detectors were “manufactured in China and had been purchased inexpensively over the Internet.”

Millburn Fire Chief J. Michael Roberts said that he recently met with officials from the CPSC, which is investigating this and similar incidents, and which has requested the MFD’s help in raising community awareness about this issue.

“According to data from the National Fire Protection Association, only 20 percent of home fires occur between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., when most people are asleep,” Millburn fire officials stated. “However, fires that do occur during this time result in 50 percent of all home fire deaths. Furthermore, three out of five home fire deaths happen from fires in homes without working smoke detectors.”

According to MFD officials, a UL-certified smoke detector will have the organization's logo, a UL symbol enclosed within a circle, printed on its package.

MFD officials also remind residents to ensure that smoke detectors are tested regularly and replaced when they reach the end of their shelf life. Batteries should be replaced twice annually; a good habit is to add fresh batteries when setting the clocks ahead and behind for Daylight Savings Time.

"With so many knock-off products and inexpensive alternatives available at discount stores and over the Internet, it's understandable that residents are looking for opportunities to save," Chief Roberts said. "However, a UL-certified smoke detector is one of the cheapest and most effective insurance policies you can buy. We strongly caution residents to avoid risking the safety of their families and homes, and to make the investment in installing working, high-quality smoke detectors."

More information about the Consumer Product Safety Commission's guidelines and standards for smoke detector safety can be found on its website, at www.cpsc.gov.

Photo: topquark22, Flickr Commons

Send local news tips, photos and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com