Local

Fire departments warned about concerns relating to Universal smoke alarms

Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Causey warned fire departments and residents across North Carolina about concerns relating to Universal smoke alarms.

The current issue with Universal smoke alarms came to the attention of the Office of State Fire Marshal as a result of reports from fire chiefs and the diligence of the professionals and volunteers who install the alarms.

The Office of State Fire Marshal regularly partners with local communities and fire departments to ensure residents have fully functional and operational smoke detectors installed.

The smoke alarms are provided through a a program that is paid for by the Fire-Safe Cigarette Act for fire prevention and smoke alarm promotion, which has led to more than 21,000 smoke alarms being installed and resulted directly in eight lives being saved in North Carolina.

"Smoke alarms are your first line of protection in the case of a fire and it is entirely too important to risk your life and property on a faulty product," said Causey. "I am extremely proud of the great work of the folks who work these canvassing events and happy we continue to protect people inside their homes with properly operating smoke alarms."

Assistant State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor reported that the state fire marshal's office is in the process of replacing this product with another smoke alarm and has reported the product to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The safety commission collected samples of the alarms and will be conducting an investigation. Anyone who would like to stare information about their personal experience with these alarms can contact consumer product safety investigator Eric Toussaint at 202-329-0184 or email him at

.

The safety commission strongly recommends that fire departments across North Carolina discontinue installing this product until the investigation is complete.