Working smoke detectors are the number one thing people can do to ensure safety if fire breaks out.

Polk Township Fire Chief Billy Tippett said Friday the inexpensive device is invaluable.

“You can’t put a price tag on that,” he said.

Smoke alarms can be purchased for less than $20 at stores such as Lowe’s.

Tippett said the detectors can alert people to give them time to escape a fire.

This week companies are observing fire prevention week and trying to educate people about safety.

John McArdle, Nesquehoning fire chief and president of the Carbon County Firemen’s Association and chairman of the Carbon County Fire Chiefs Association, agreed smoke detectors are crucial.

Having the smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors can prevent a tragedy. Batteries should be tested frequently. McArdle said he had three carbon monoxide calls recently. A hospital stay was not required. A blocked chimney was the cause with one and the other two were malfunctions.

Frank Zangari, president of the Schuylkill County Fire Chiefs and chief of the Girardville Fire Department, said smoke detectors help residents, neighbors and the firefighters.

“Fires don’t just pick the first week of October,” he said, adding this time period is the most active for firefighters.

Having a functional smoke detector is a “win-win for everybody,” he said.

When investigating a fire scene, Zangari said they check if the structure had a working smoke detector.

“There’s no excuse to have people not having working smoke alarms,” Zangari said.

Contact your local fire company for questions.

“They make great gifts. Save a life,” Zangari said.

Pottsville Fire Chief James Misstishin Sr. agreed “smoke alarms save lives.”

Every minute counts

In just two minutes a fire can become life-threatening, and in five minutes a home can be engulfed in fire, according to the website ready.gov.

The U.S. Fire Administration said there were 1,291,500 fires in 2019, the most recent data available; 3,704 deaths; 16,600 injuries; and $14.8 billion in monetary damages.

In Pennsylvania, there were 2.9 deaths per 1,000 fires and 10.9 injuries in 2019. The national average was 2.9 deaths and 10 injuries per 1,000 fires, data from the U.S. Fire Administration shows.

Regarding residential structure fire casualties, there were 5.7 deaths and 21.7 injuries per 1,000 fires. The national average was 6.2 deaths and 25.6 injuries per 1,000 fires, data indicates.

Cooking fires are the primary cause of fires, accounting for 51% of all residential fires, according to the U.S. Fire Administration using information reported to the National Fire Incident Reporting System for 2017-2019. The estimated 187,500 cooking fires resulted in 165 deaths, 3,325 injuries and $444 million in property loss. The leading cause of the cooking fire was unattended equipment.

Misstishin said it is a mistake to leave the area where you are cooking.

The chiefs said have a working carbon monoxide detectors can save your life. Having a fire escape plan and a meeting place are important, Misstishin said.

For more information, visit ready.gov; nfpa.org, the website of the National Fire Protection Association; and redcross.org.