What would happen if:

·         Your fire alarm activates when you are at work?

·         You need medical care but are unable to unlock the door?

·         A water line breaks while you are vacationing?

·         Some other emergency occurs within your home while you are away?

All of these situations require the fire department to gain entry to your house. 

Fires cannot always be detected from outside the structure.  The Genoa Township Fire Department’s policy requires the firefighters to enter a structure anytime a fire alarm is received so they can search for fire not visible from the outside.

Medical emergencies may happen when you are home alone.  In the case of a fall, heart attack, or other life threatening emergency, you may not be able to get to the door to unlock it.

Mechanical failure, an extended power outage during the cold months, or a severe cold snap can cause water lines to break.  The fire department will respond and take action to minimize the damage.

These and other situations necessitate the fire department to gain access to your house.  If no one is home this requires the fire department to force entry.  While the department’s goal is to do as little damage as possible, there are always some repairs required.  An alternative to forced entry is a locked key box installed outside the residence which gives the emergency personnel the rapid access needed, without doing any damage to the structure.  This locked box is called a Knox Box.   A Knox Box is inexpensive when compared to the cost of repairs from forced entry.  A Knox Box is secure because only The Genoa Township Fire Department carries the key to open it.

Please contact Lt. Craig Skeel at 614-568-2040 to discuss installing a Knox Box, or you can order online at http://www.knoxbox.com.  Additional information can be obtained at http://www.knoxbox.com/store/pubdoclib/MKT-KBBROC-0030-B.pdf.

That annoying smoke detector

Smoke detectors are life saving devices.  However, like all appliances and electronic devices, they do have a life expectancy. 

Per NFPA: 

Replace all smoke alarms, including alarms that use 10-year batteries and hard-wired alarms, when they are 10 years old or sooner if they do not respond properly.

The Ohio Building Code requires smoke detectors to be installed in newer homes on all floors and in all sleeping areas.  Code also requires that all detectors activate when a single detector senses smoke or fire.   This provides additional protection by alerting occupants who are not in the area of a fire.  

False activation from a smoke detector is common when:

·     The batteries are weak.  This usually begins as a periodic chirping from one or all detectors.  By remembering and following “Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery" at the beginning and end of Daylight Savings Time, false alarms from weak batteries can be avoided.

·     The smoke detector has reached its end of life.  This usually results in some or all smoke detectors activating with no cause.   To prevent this annoyance (that always seems to happen at 3:00 in the morning), follow the NFPA’s recommendations to replace smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.

If you have any questions or need assistance with your smoke detectors, please contact your fire department at 614-568-2040