Free Smoke Alarms

In an average year, approximately 4,000 Americans will die in a fire, and another 21,000 will be injured in a fire. The majority of fire deaths occur in a person’s own home (80 percent). A working smoke alarm provides early warning of a fire. Your chances for survival are two times better when smoke alarms are present than when they are not. Because the Sugar Land Fire Department is committed to life safety, we provide and install smoke alarms free of charge to any home (one- and two-family dwellings) within our fire jurisdiction. There are four main ways that we provide and install free smoke alarms:

• Individual requests – any person living within the Sugar Land Fire Department’s fire jurisdiction may call the Public Education Program Office and request this service. To make an appointment, call (281) 275-2859 or  E-Mail the Sugar Land Fire Department
• Free Home Fire Safety Inspections – during the course of a home inspection, smoke alarms may be installed as needed. Also, smoke alarm batteries are replaced as needed. To make an appointment, call (281) 275-2859 or E-Mail the Sugar Land Fire Department
• Smoke alarm drives – Scout troops, church groups, civic associations, etc. may arrange a smoke alarm drive in a designated area. Firefighters assist with a door-to-door neighborhood drive, installing smoke alarms and batteries as needed. A neighborhood drive can be scheduled through the Public Education Program Office by calling (281) 275-2859 or  
  E-Mail the Sugar Land Fire Department. Allow 2 to 3 months planning time.
• Emergency responses – at the conclusion of most emergency responses to residences, firefighters check for smoke alarms and replace or install smoke alarms and/or batteries as needed.

FAST FACTS:

• There are two main types of alarms, photoelectric and ionization. Both types monitor continuously.
• Smoke alarms should be replaced after 10 years of service, whether hard-wired, battery-operated, or hard-wired with a battery backup. “Be Safe, Replace.”
• Batteries should be replaced twice a year. “When You Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery.” Test all smoke alarms weekly – “Tuesday, Test Day.”

Following manufacturer’s directions for wall or ceiling placement, mount one smoke alarm outside each sleeping area (should be audible inside each bedroom with the door closed) and on each level of the home (minimum recommendations). Add a smoke alarm inside each bedroom for more protection.