Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) has long been committed to reducing fire fatalities and property loss in the City of Portland and a first step is to make sure all homes have working smoke alarms installed. This Sunday is Daylight Savings Time and it’s a good reminder to assess your smoke alarm status.

Every Daylight Savings, test your smoke alarm and make sure it is functioning. If you need smoke alarms installed, Portland residents can take advantage of PF&R’s Citywide Smoke Alarm Program to receive them. All residents need to do is simply call PF&R’s Smoke Alarm Hotline and their local fire crew will schedule a visit to install alarms. Smoke alarms are necessary on every floor of your home and in every sleeping area.

Working smoke alarms save lives. Most fatal fires occur at night, peaking from midnight to 5 AM, when people are asleep. One-third (33 percent) of fatal residential fires occur during these five hours.  Working smoke alarms wake you up, giving you time to escape. Almost two-thirds of home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

HOW TO RECEIVE A SMOKE ALARM:

• Call PF&R’s Smoke Alarm Hotline at (503) 823-3752
• Your request will be forward to your nearest fire station, who will schedule an installation

WHO IS ELIGIBLE:

• The primary goal of the program is to provide service to residents who are either low income, older adults, or possess physical limitations.  However, PF&R does not want to leave anyone unprotected, and will strive to provide alarms to any Portland household that needs them.
• In rental units, it is the property owner’s responsibility to provide working smoke alarms (ORS 479.270). PF&R will honor smoke alarm requests from tenants but not from landlords.