Shaker Heights Fire Chief: Is Your Home Safe From Flames?

Shaker Heights Fire Chief Kevin Jacobs asked residents to check their smoke detectors in the wake of Tuesday morning’s house fire that killed two.

“Make sure you’re being safe,” Jacobs said. He said that it’s important for residents to make sure their smoke detectors are working and have charged batteries.

Shaker Heights requires all residents to use photoelectric smoke detectors when installing or replacing their detectors. The detectors are less prone to nuisance false alarms from cooking and steam and could allow residents experiencing a true fire 30 or more minutes of extra escape time, he said.

He also said that residents should carefully follow operating manuals of their cooking and heating appliances and extension cords and take proper care of their Christmas trees.

For more information from the Shaker Heights Fire Department on photoelectric detectors, click here.

For information from the U.S. Fire Administration on prevention, home fire drills and more, click here.