​Harrisburg, PA - State Fire Commissioner Thomas Cook is urging Pennsylvanians to take part in this year's National Fire Prevention Week, now through October 12, by making sure they have working smoke alarms in their homes.

This year's National Fire Prevention Week theme, "Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!" is intended to educate everyone about the importance of having working smoke alarms in the home. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by more than half. Roughly three out of five fire deaths occur in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

"Simply put, smoke alarms save lives," said Commissioner Cook. "Having working smoke alarms installed in critical places throughout the home is vital to provide early alerting needed to escape today's fast-moving fires. You may have as little as two minutes to safely exit your home from the moment you first hear a smoke alarm."

To ensure your home is properly protected by working smoke alarms, the NFPA recommends following these three key steps:

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area, like a hallway, and on each level of the home including the basement.

• Test smoke alarms at least once a month. Change the batteries twice a year.
• Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or stop responding when tested.

It is important to have a home escape plan when a smoke alarm sounds. A good plan includes two ways out of every room, usually a door and a window, with a clear path to an outside meeting place that is a safe distance from the home.

If your home includes family members with sensory or physical needs, include smoke alarms that have additional alerting tools like lights, vibrations, or alternate sounds including voices. Be sure your home fire escape plans consider any additional time or assistance these family members may need. Also, consider adding additional alarms for other home hazards such as carbon monoxide and propane and natural gasses.

Some additional fire safety tips to keep family members safe are:

• Draw a map of your home with all members of your household, marking two exits from each room and a path to the outside from each exit.
• Practice your home fire drill twice a year. Conduct one at night and one during the day with everyone in your home, and practice using different ways out.
• Teach children how to escape on their own in case adults are not able to help them.
• Make sure your house number is clearly marked and easy for the fire department to find.
• Close doors behind you as you leave - this may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire.
• Never go back inside a burning building. Once outside, stay outside.

If you have any questions on smoke alarms, please contact your local fire department. Many offer free smoke alarms, alarm installation and safety checks, and educational opportunities.

For additional information on fire safety, including seasonal fire safety tips, visit the Office of the State Fire Commissioner website.​