According to Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner Bruce Trego, families should also have carbon monoxide detectors installed. Carbon monoxide, he said, is odorless, colorless, and deadly. Moreover, exposure to carbon monoxide can be misread.
"It's very similar to flu-like symptoms sometimes," he explained. "That's when people think, 'Oh well, it's just the flu.' One key to help with identifying that is if everybody in the household is exposed at the same amount of time and everybody gets these symtoms at the same time."
Trego suggested families should test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors monthly. But if you haven't done so in a while, you should do it now and make sure all family members are up to speed on a fire evacuation plan.
"If we take a look at the statistics of civilian deaths in fires across the commonwealth, over 50% are residents that are over 55 years of age," Trego explained. "So we would like to encourage if your parents are living home alone, make sure they their smoke alarm is working as well and practice with them on how to get out should the smoke alarm actually function."
Commissioner Trego said discharged or missing batteries are the most common cause of a smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector malfunction.
He cautioned the moment an alarm sounds, occupants may have a couple of minutes to get out of the building safely.