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SPOKANE VALLEY FIRE SEES INCREASE IN CO ALARM CALLS
For Immediate Release:
April 10, 2020
Contact:
Julie Happy
Community Affairs Manager
Spokane Valley Fire
509.892.4155
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SPOKANE VALLEY FIRE SEES INCREASE IN CO ALARM CALLS
MOST CALLS ARE DUE TO THE NEED FOR A BATTERY TO BE REPLACED OR THE ALARM IS AT ITS EXPIRATION
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Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) has seen an increase in 9-1-1 calls for chirping/alarming CO Alarms due to the alarms’ end-of-useful-life. As a result, we hope to educate the public on the sounds a CO Alarm makes for a better understanding of when to call 911.
CO is a gas you cannot see, taste, or smell. It is created when fuels such as kerosene, gasoline, natural gas, propane, or wood don’t burn completely.
The sensors in CO alarms have a limited life. They do expire. SVFD wants to remind everyone to replace your CO alarm according to the manufacturer’s instructions or when the end-of-life signal sounds. On the back of the alarm is the guide for the different sounds your CO alarm will make. SVFD asks that citizens read the guide and know the different sounds of your CO alarm. It is important to know your own alarm as each manufacturer can have different settings for their beeps. Typically, beeps with a short pause indicate an EMERGENCY (a call to 9-1-1). Beeps with a pause of approximately a minute (intermittent beeping) indicate either a low battery or an end-of-life signal. Again, we ask that citizens please check their owner’s manual or the back of the alarm to read the codes for the various sounds. This will help determine if an alarm needs to be replaced, the battery needs to be changed or to call 911.
The alarm may also display ERR or END. CO alarms last between five to ten years, depending upon the manufacturer. Check the back of your alarm to see the date of manufacture stamp. If renting your residence, check your lease to determine who is responsible for replacing the batteries and expired CO alarms.
SVFD wants everyone to be safe and reiterate, KNOW your CO Alarm sounds to KNOW when to call 911.
About Spokane Valley Fire Department
Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) serves a population of 125,000, including the cities of Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake and Millwood, as well as surrounding unincorporated areas within the 75-square miles of Spokane County Fire District 1. In 2019, SVFD firefighter crews, including its paramedics and EMTs, responded to more than 18,326 emergency calls.
Established eighty years ago in 1940, SVFD is committed to pursuing excellence and is distinguished as an Accredited Agency by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International and by the fire district’s ISO Class 2 rating from the Washington Survey and Rating Bureau.
Connect with SVFD at: spokanevalleyfire.com. For department news, safety information, and timely updates, find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
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Did you Know?
- You can sign up for a station tour. Great for small groups.
- You should replace the batteries in your smoke alarms twice a year.
- Creating a defensible space with regards to wildfires could just save your home or property.
- We have Friends & Family CPR classes every month.
