Not all smoke detectors are the same Published June 5, 2014 By Staff Sgt. Stephen Hjerstedt 319th Civil Engineer Squadron fire inspector GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Approximately 2,500 people are killed each year in residential fires, and another 500 die from carbon monoxide, which is a colorless and odorless gas that's known as the "silent killer." Knowing the types and differences of each alarm will help you chose and where to place these detection devices in your home to increase you and your family's safety. Better to have all three then just one. Off-the-shelf smoke alarms are either ionization or photoelectric. Each reacts differently depending on how a fire started. For instance, ionization alarms are great at detecting fast, flaming fire such as burning paper, but poor at detecting a smoldering fire such as a cigarette smoldering in a couch or a mattress. The opposite was true for photoelectric in which they were better at detecting smoldering fires and poor at detecting fast flaming fires. Some companies have combined both ionization and photoelectric to increase their effectiveness at detection, but they do not detect carbon monoxide. All together now. If you place multiple detectors in your home, check to see if you can connect them all together. This will have them sound simultaneously when any one is triggered. So if you are asleep upstairs and a detector is activated in the basement all the alarms throughout the house will sound ensuring everyone is awake and aware of the alarm. But not all brands work together, some use a wireless communication which will only work with other wireless detectors only. Do your homework. Before installing new detectors check your town or city regulations. Type of alarms and placement differ from on jurisdiction to another. Contact your insurance company also because some insurers offer a five percent discount for homes with smoke alarms. Installing and maintaining are critical. Always follow the manufacturers' installation recommendations. A simple rule of thumb: smoke rises, so mount the detector on ceilings or high on the wall. Avoid false alarms by using photoelectric detectors in the kitchen, bathrooms, or laundry rooms. Burnt toast and sources of steam have a tendency to set off ionization detectors. Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors weekly and vacuum them monthly and follow the manufacturers' recommendations about battery replacement. Carbon monoxide detectors have a useable life of five years after which they need to be replaced with a new one. More about this topic can be found at http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/co-and-smoke-alarms/buying-guide.htm. For further information contact the Grand Forks AFB Fire Prevention team at 747-4174 or 4442.