Many people believe that if a fire broke out in their home while they are sleeping, the smell of the smoke would wake them, but that is not the case because you cannot smell while you sleep. 

Smoke will put you in a deeper sleep due to the poisonous carbon monoxide gas produced by the fire, so the only way to ensure safety is by having a smoke alarm.  Smoke alarms will alert you to smoke and give you enough advance warning to leave the building immediately and then call 9-1-1.

No one should ever go to sleep without a smoke alarm.  There should be a smoke alarm in any room where a person sleeps, one in the hallway leading to the rooms where people sleep, and one outside the kitchen area.  Kitchens are where most fires start in the Las Vegas Valley and across the rest of the country.

Since 1994 all new homes built in the city of Las Vegas are required to have smoke alarms. 

Because smoke alarms are so important, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue has made smoke alarms available for free to people who qualify.  People that need assistance such as senior citizens or people on fixed incomes are eligible to receive two free smoke alarms.  All that is required is that you call Las Vegas Fire & Rescue at 229-0331 and request a smoke alarm.  And you must pick up the smoke alarm in person at fire headquarters downtown, next to city hall.  People who pick up the smoke alarm will be required to fill out a simple form that the smoke alarm was picked up. 

For those very special cases where people need assistance getting the smoke alarm installed (because of a disability or senior citizen) LVFR may be able to make arrangements to have the smoke alarm installed free of charge.  Call 229-0331 for details.

Already this week the department has received nearly 100 calls.  The smoke alarms will be available on a first come-first serve basis until supplies are exhausted.

Funding the purchase of the smoke alarms was made available by the Fireman’s Fund Heritage Program, PaPa John’s Pizza of Las Vegas and First Alert, the manufactures of the smoke alarm through the Fire Department Assistance Program. 

The smoke alarms being distributed are the very latest in technology, it is a duel sensor photoelectric/ionization battery operated smoke alarm.

Las Vegas Fire & Rescue has provided thousands of free smoke alarms over the past several years due to various fire safety projects.  Getting people out of a burning building is the most important thing, and the smoke alarm is the most useful tool in making sure that is accomplished.