The majority of fatal home fires happen at night when people are asleep.  Contrary to popular belief, the smell of smoke may not wake a sleeping person.  The poisonous gas (CO) and smoke production by a fire can numb the senses and put you into a deeper sleep.

Inexpensive household smoke detectors sound an alarm, alerting you to a fire. By giving you time to escape, smoke detectors cut your risk of dying in a home fire nearly in half.  Smoke detectors save so many lives that most states have laws requiring them in private homes.

Choosing a Detector
Be sure that the smoke detectors you buy carry the mark of an independent testing laboratory.  Several types of detectors are available.  Some run on batteries; others run on household current.  Some detect smoke using an "ionization" sensor; others use a "photoelectric" detection system.

Is One Enough?
Every home should have a smoke detector outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.  On floors without bedrooms, detectors should be installed in or near living areas, such as dens, living rooms, or family rooms.  Be sure everyone sleeping in you home can hear your smoke detectors' alarm.  If any resident are hearing impaired or sleep with bedroom doors closed, install additional detectors inside sleeping areas.  There are special smoke detectors for the hearing impaired; these flash a light in addition to sounding an audible alarm.

Where To Install?
Because smoke rises, mount detectors high on a wall or on the ceiling.  Wall-mounted units should be mounted so that the top of the detector is 4 to 12 inches from the ceiling.  A ceiling mounted detector should be attached at least 4 inches from the nearest wall.  In stairways with no doors at the top or bottom, position smoke detectors anywhere in the path of smoke moving up the stairs. 

Installation
Most battery-powered smoke detectors and detectors that plug into wall outlets can be installed using only a drill and a screwdriver by following the manufacture's instructions.  Hardwired detectors should be installed by a qualified electrician.  Never connect a smoke detector to a circuit that can be turned off from a wall switch.

Smoke Detector Program
The Union City Fire Department has a smoke detector program.  If you would like a smoke detector installed free of charge in your home call 510-675-5470.