Quote:

Originally Posted by I'm Popeye! (Post 2124192) What's next, shine shoes? The fire department's job is to turn fires off, I always thought!

(groan)

As Mom used to tell us, "you'd complain if you were hung with a new rope".

Firefighters installing new smoke detectors or changing batteries in current ones may avoid serious injury to the owner if he/she falls off a ladder and breaks a bunch of bones in the process.

Even more importantly, it may avert a death or deaths if the smoke alarms weren't working, the house catches fire, and the occupants weren't awakened in time to get out.

Turn Fires Off???
 

The fire department is here for “Public Safety “
Not sure how you turn off a fire lol

I asked why they come out in the fire truck for this service and was told if a call came in they would leave immediately for the emergency call and return later to finish the battery replacement later. I think this is a wonderful service offered by our community! Thanks for your service!

Actually fighting fires is a small percentage of what your fire department does. Among many other things, they do inspections, safety training, education, fire prevention, etc. But, the biggest component in the jobs they do every day is running EMS calls. Especially within the target rich environment of The Villages. And yes, ensuring that residents have properly working smoke detectors is a valuable service they offer.

How anyone could complain about the VPSD performing this service is beyond me.

Back to the topic.

Smoke alarms lose effectiveness after ten years. If you live north of 466 (approximately) please consider replacing your smoke detectors.

Also, there are three types of detectors:
-Photo electric
-Ionization
-Dual (both technologies)

USFA position on home smoke alarms.

The first thing we did when we bought this house was to replace the smoke alarms with 10 year battery models. ( I had two extra so I installed them in my neighbors house)

As I understand it, The Villages builder only installs the ionization type smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in new houses. No photoelectric sensors. So, they are not following the USFA recommendation.

"Because both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms are better at detecting distinctly different yet potentially fatal fires, and because no one can predict what type of fire might start in a home, the USFA recommends that every home and place where people sleep be equipped with either (a) both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms, or (b) dual sensor smoke alarms (which contain both ionization and photoelectric smoke sensors)."

Not even close to funny.

No they are not, that is why I posted this lifesaving tip. They are, however, following code.

It is more important (than the type of smoke alarm you have) to replace your detectors after ten years

Can't help it. Sanitation guy sweep. Our guy does the dishes and cleans the windows.
BE SURE TO ASK THEM ABOUT THIS SERVICE.

Actually we have both smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. The carbon monoxide detectors only last about 4 years. I am too stubborn to admit I am this old. Must be a problem with the mirror, In any case with the proper ladder an 8 foot changing the battery and changing a smoke detector or carbon monoxide detector is truly simple.

A truly simple solution, buy an 8 foot ladder. You will need it to change light bulbs etc. A newer ladder will have a sign NOT to stand on the top steps.

If, you read the posts, there are people HERE and perhaps everywhere that COMPLAIN. Far more important are those who see a problem and POLITELY offer a solution.

So where were you two years ago when I bough the wrong ladder?:)

In any case we pay for this thru our taxes so why not take advantage of this service

We checked with the sanitation guy when he came to sweep our back yard, and driveway.
He gave us a free 8' ladder as part of the service! :thumbup: