Home Security and Fire Monitoring

A commonly overlooked component to your home security plan is fire monitoring. This is not usually part of the free systems advertised but a monitored smoke detector is an inexpensive way to help keep your family and home a little safer.

The most common smoke detector type is the battery operated "noise maker" which is used to alert residents to fire. A monitored smoke detector is very similar but ties to your security system. When the smoke detector is activated it alerts you via noise and notifies the monitoring station, who in turn not only calls the homeowner but also dispatches the fire department.

Some homeowners worry that the fire department will be dispatched over a false alarm, to minimize this risk make sure to tell your monitoring station to call your cell phone before dispatching the fire department or ask the installing company to place the detector far enough from the kitchen that "a smoky meal" will not activate the system. A monitored smoke detector may cost you a couple more dollars per month depending on the monitoring company you use, but many companies offer free monitoring and charge you a fee to install the devise.

3 key reasons to purchase a monitored smoke detector:

1. Your not always home to hear your smoke detector. The monitoring company can dispatch the fire department.

2. Your pet may be in the home, even when your not. Once again the monitoring company can dispatch the fire department, helping to save lives, including your pets.

3. Even when you are home, time is of the essence. Sometimes you are in the shower or sleeping and your senses are not always tuned into hearing the beeping of a smoke detector. The monitoring company can dispatch the fire department, sometimes before you even realize smoke detector is beeping.

Ok, one great reason: the monitoring station can dispatch the fire department. Think about adding a monitored smoke detector to your system and your security system becomes much more then a "burglar alarm".

QuickStats-The Overall Fire Picture - 2006

There were 3,245 civilians that lost their lives as the result of fire.
There were 16,400 civilian injuries that occurred as the result of fire.
There were 106 firefighters killed while on duty.
Fire killed more Americans than all natural disasters combined.
81 percent of all civilian fire deaths occurred in residences.
1.6 million fires were reported. Many others went unreported, causing additional injuries and property loss.
Direct property loss due to fires was estimated at $11.3 billion.
An estimated 31,000 intentionally set structure fires resulted in 305 civilian deaths.
Intentionally set structure fires resulted in an estimated $755 million in property damage.

Source: National Fire Protection Association Fire Loss in the U.S. During 2006 and USFA's Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2006.