MEDIA RELEASE: Reminder: Check Your Smoke Alarms!

Last Updated: 12/9/2025

Tioga County Public Health reminds residents to check their smoke alarms. Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms play an important role in reducing injury and death from house fires. Smoke travels fast during a fire, and smoke alarms give you time to get you and your loved ones to safety. However, for smoke alarms to do their job, they need to be routinely maintained. Smoke alarms should be checked at least once a month by pressing the test button to make sure the alarm’s battery is working.

Heather Vroman, Public Health Director, further emphasizes the importance of fire prevention and smoke alarms: “In rural communities like ours where emergency response times can be longer, and fire risks are often higher due to older homes and heating methods, prevention is truly our strongest defense.” Prevention doesn’t have to be complicated. Simple steps like checking smoke alarms, practicing escape plans, and safely storing flammable materials can save lives.

Additional Smoke Alarm Reminders:

• Smoke alarms should be installed in every sleeping room and outside each separate sleeping area.
• Alarms should be installed on every level of the home. Large homes may need extra smoke alarms.
• When a smoke alarm sounds, get outside, and stay outside.
• Replace all smoke alarms in your home every 10 years.

According to the United States Fire Administration, fires caused by cooking, heating, and open flames increase during the winter holidays; however, Corinne Cornelius, Director of Tioga County Emergency Services and Fire Coordinator, says simple fire safety tips can make a big difference in reducing injuries or deaths due to fires.

“Always make sure you have working smoke detectors to alert you quickly to fires, and allow you time to escape should fires occur. During heating season, carbon monoxide detectors are very important as well, because CO is colorless, odorless, and can be a result of some heating methods” says Corinne. “Talk about fire safety as a family, including leaving the building if there is a fire, never go back in for anything and establish a meeting location. Closing doors can help keep fire from getting oxygen that it needs to keep growing and spreading. We have had numerous fires throughout the county that could have had tragic consequences if it wasn’t for early detection from smoke detectors and quick thinking to close doors and follow a quick escape plan.”  

To learn about more fire prevention tips, visit https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies.

###