Being smart about smoke alarms is the message being sent by the Troy Fire Department as part of Fire Prevention Week.

The City of Troy Fire Department is reinforcing the need for newer smoke alarms as part of its community information campaign this week. The department is teaming up with the nonprofit National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) in promoting “Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With!” as the theme for this year’s fire prevention week.

“Many homes in the city of Troy may not have any smoke alarms, not enough smoke alarms, alarms that are too old, or alarms that are not working,” said Willie Jones, fire marshal for the City of Troy Fire Department, “We want residents to understand that working smoke alarms are needed in every home, on every level, outside each sleeping area and inside each bedroom. And, if a smoke alarm is 10 years old or older, it needs to be replaced.”

This year the fire department is dedicated to educating the public about the importance of having a fire alarm and how the alarm can mean life or death in a case of a fire. The NFPA statistics state that having a working smoke alarm cuts the chance of dying in a fire by 50 percent if the smoke alarm is working. Roughly two-thirds of all home fire deaths result from not having a smoke alarm. Investing in a smoke alarm is a vital decision in home owning, .

There are different types of smoke alarms and Jones explained that a hard wire smoke alarm is best. “The hard wire alarm is wired into the electrical system of the house with back up batteries incase the power fails, but with alarms that are just battery operated people hear the beeping take the battery out and that’s the end of it.” The NFPA association data explained that several home’s are without working alarms usually because of missing, disconnected or dead batteries.

Fire Department is hoping that this week’s fire prevention week will be a call to action for homeowners to inspect their homes for full protection and learn about the new technologies and expanded options for installation with smoke alarms. The Troy Fire Department suggests testing alarms at least once a month and making sure that everyone in your house knows the sound of the alarm. Also replacing smoke alarms 10 years and older and never removing or disabling a smoke alarm.