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City of Milwaukee announces smoke alarm ordinance
City of Milwaukee announces smoke alarm ordinance
MILWAUKEE -- A new ordinance will go into effect in 2013 regarding smoke detectors in the city of Milwaukee. City officials hope a minor technological change will help save lives.
City leaders say winter is the peak time for fires in the city of Milwaukee.
"When we look at fatalities and serious house fires, unfortunately they occur near the holidays," Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said.
Mayor Barrett and the Milwaukee Common Council passed an ordinance centered around fire safety. City officials remind people to purchase smoke detectors with a 10-year battery life, but new smoke detectors do not allow for the removal of batteries.
"The technology is going to allow us to have that smoke detector that can't be tampered with," Milwaukee Fire Chief Mark Rohlfing said.
City officials say 75% of fire deaths result from cases where there were missing or dead smoke detector batteries.
Lt. Schuyler Belott installed new smoke detectors Thursday, December 13th in a home in the city's Park West neighborhood. The new nine-volt Lithium battery in the detectors is good for 10 years, however, fire officials still encourage monthly testing of the smoke detectors.
"We want to take that issue off the table and we want to make sure that homes and apartments have working batteries," Rohlfing said.
The new ordinance takes effect in June of 2013. The city of Milwaukee is giving residents a five-year grace period to replace old smoke detectors.
The new smoke detectors retail for about $20.
CLICK HERE for more information from the Milwaukee Fire Department's website, including information on how to receive free smoke detectors, OR call the Smoke Detector Hotline at (414) 286-8980.