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More than one million fires are reported by fire departments every year.
The number of fires has risen substantially in recent years. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, in 2022 cooking was responsible for nearly half (47.7%) of home fires, followed by faulty heating, carelessness, and electrical malfunction. Fires cause billions in property damage and a loss of lives or injuries, many of which could have been prevented with smoke alarms.
In a 2024 study released by the National Fire Protection Association, from 2018-2022:
- 59% of home fires deaths were caused in properties with no smoke alarms
- Of those fatalities, 28% occurred when a smoke alarm failed
- disconnected batteries, dead batteries, and disconnected hard-wired smoke alarms were to blame
Now is a good time to install and/or check your smoke detectors.
Here are a few tips to ensure your smoke alarms are operating properly.
- Check your smoke alarms monthly.
- Replace batteries at least once a year. A good rule of thumb is to change the batteries with Daylight Saving Time.
- Replace the entire smoke detector according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Oswald’s Risk Consulting services are designed to reduce your exposure to liability and loss, while also lessening the frequency and severity of losses. Our dedicated specialists are highly experienced and seasoned professionals who work closely with you to develop and maintain successful safety and risk management loss prevention.
This article originally posted in 2017. It was updated in 2018, 2020 and 2025.
