Call to Action

Posted on: January 7, 2009 | admin | Comments Off | Print Article | Rate Post:

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The Alaska Division of Fire and Life Safety joins United State Fire Administrator Greg Cade in asking all residents in the nation to make sure that all homes have working smoke alarms. Eighteen Alaska residents lost their lives due to fire in 2008. The majority of these senseless deaths occurred in structures with no operating smoke alarms. Many of the structures had no smoke alarms installed and one had a smoke alarm that did not function. Many Alaskans lived to see 2009 due to working smoke alarms in their homes. In 2008 fire departments around the state reported numerous cases in which families were alerted to a fire in the home by working smoke alarms allowing them time to escape without injury.

Alaska statute (AS 18.70.095) requires all dwelling units to have smoke detection devices (smoke alarms) installed and maintained to operate. David Tyler, the Alaska State Fire Marshal, reminds everyone that failure to comply with this statute is a class B misdemeanor and requires a mandatory court appearance. Upon conviction of a class B misdemeanor, the defendant can be fined up to $2000.00 or be required to spend up to ninety days in jail. If an organization is the defendant, the fine can be up to $25, 000.00. If injuries or death occur in a structure fire and there were no working smoke alarms, the owner or responsible party could be held liable in a civil suit.

Please make sure you have working smoke alarms in your home. The Division of Fire and Life Safety offers a free monthly reminder by email to test your smoke alarms. This service is available by logging on to the Division of Fire and Life Safety’s web site http://www.akburny.com/ , and under Quick Links click on Smoke Alarm Reminder.