Fire is the second leading cause of unintentional death in the home.
Each year, more than 3,700 people die in residential fires, and there are more than 400,000 residential fires serious enough to be reported to fire departments. They should be tested monthly, and the batteries should be replaced at least once a year or when they make a 'chirping' sound. CPSC has worked to strengthen smoke detector performance and installation requirements. Don't forget to sign up for SafeMail. Safety Alerts compiles comprehensive safety recall information for the United States.