Recent Spate Of House Fires Shows Importance Of Smoke Detectors

Two fatal house fires this week in Oklahoma bring attention to the importance of smoke alarms.

The devices are available at area stores for as little as four dollars. Edmond Fire Prevention Chief Mike Barnes says two-thirds of the homes in America either don't have any smoke alarms at all, or they have them and they don't work.

“When you push that button, all it's saying it has power and the horn works,” he said. “It doesn't tell you it detects smoke.”

Barnes says smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years. Over in Oklahoma City, Public Education Chief Kevin Berry says a working smoke detector allowed a family to get out safely less than two weeks ago, after a house fire near Rockwell and Northwest 10th Street.