Fire protection month: Get detectors in order

October is Fire Prevention Month.
Franklin Fire Chief Chuck Bourgeois pointed out that 85 percent of all fire fatalities occur in residences not protected by a smoke detector.
Nationally, 75 percent of all residences do have working smoke detectors; but in Franklin, an estimated less than 25 percent have them, Bourgeois said.
More than 40 fire-related deaths have occurred in Louisiana this year.
The Franklin Fire Department installs free 10-year sealed battery detectors to elderly and low-income home owners. Some 620 of these units have been installed over the last three years.
Homeowners without an operational smoke detector can call the fire department at 828-6328.
Bourgeois also noted that nearly 90 percent of one and two family rental units do not have working detectors. Landlords are required by law to provide at least one 10-year detector to protect sleeping areas.
The fire department is aggressively enforcing existing law, Bourgeois said, to provide a minimum level of safety to all renters. After notification of a violation, owners have 45-60 days to come into compliance. If they fail to do so, within the city the penalty is $500 or 60 days in jail. Out of the unincorporated areas, it is $1,000 or six months in jail.
Renters who do not have an operational smoke detector should contact their landlord. If none is installed after 30 days, contact the fire department. If a renter suffers injury due to the absence of or a non-functional detector, the landlord is criminally liable.
Conventional 9-volt battery detectors are not permitted in rental installations. Sealed long-life batteries are required and must be replaced after 10 years. The nits will beep when it is time to be replaced.