Oct 13, 2008 7:16 pm US/Eastern
Tragic NYC Fires Show Need For Smoke Detectors
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Two tragic fires that killed seven people over the weekend could have been prevented. Fire officials said in both cases there were no working smoke detectors.
On Saturday, a Chelsea apartment became a smoky death trap, taking the lives of a couple and their three children. Officials said the tragedy was sparked by a child playing with a lighter or matches. The apartment's smoke detector had been unplugged and its back-up battery removed.
Early Sunday morning in Bushwick, a fire started by a candle killed a man from Guyana and his 12-year-old nephew. There was no smoke detector in his home either.
"Most of the time, it's not working because of the battery," said Jim Bullock of the New York Fire Safety Institute. The retired deputy chief knows the importance of smoke detectors, and says all rental apartments must have them.
People are advised to test their detectors monthly and to change batteries twice a year. The problem is some people find them a nuisance going off when they cook, so they disable them, as well as remove the batteries for use in other devices.
"When the battery gets low and starts to chirp to tell you to replace it, well, they take it out to not hear the chirp, but they forget to replace the battery," Bullock said.
The Institute is promoting the use of a digital training system with a laser beam and a virtual fire to teach the proper use of fire extinguishers. "It gives you the real feel of using an extinguisher, without using the water or the chemical," said Bob O'Brien, also from the Institute.
When we move the clocks back on Sunday, November 2, don't forget the batteries.
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