One of the best life saving devices anyone can have in their home is a "working" smoke detector. Statistics show that most homes are equipped with smoke detectors, but more than half do not work because of worn or removed batteries.

Kootenai County Fire & Rescue has a smoke detector program available to citizens within our fire district boundaries. Smoke detectors are provided free of charge to low-income families and senior citizens.

Push the "test" button on the detector once a month to test the battery. Replace smoke detector batteries twice a year. A good time to do this is when you change the time on your clocks for daylight savings time.

Smoke detectors do not live forever. If your smoke detector is 10 years old or older, it is time to replace it.