If Your House Catches on Fire Tonight, Will You Wake Up In Time? Smoke detectors have saved many lives and may save yours. More than 50 percent of fatal residential fires take place at night when people are sleeping. If a fire starts while your family is asleep, smoke detectors will wake you up. They can make the difference between life and death in a fire emergency. 

Position smoke detectors on the ceiling just outside each bedroom. If you have a multi-level home, install a detector on every level. If you sleep with your bedroom door closed, or are hard of hearing, place an additional detector inside your bedroom. 

Test detectors monthly and change batteries twice a year. Daylight savings time is a perfect time to change your batteries. Change your clock-change your batteries! If you follow this routine, you will be certain to have a working smoke detector if there is a fire in your home. To ensure reliability, detectors should be replaced every ten years. 

The Kensington-El Cerrito Fire Department has a smoke detector program that provides and installs smoke detectors for persons who cannot provide or install them for themselves. If you or someone you know does not have a smoke detector, and cannot supply or install one, please contact the fire department at 215-4450. 

If your house does catch on fire, get everyone out and stay out! Practice escaping with your family. Know two ways out of every room, and have a meeting place outside where everyone will meet in the event that you are separated.