In 2011, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reported 370,000 home structure fires that resulted in 2,520 deaths and $6.9 billion in direct damage.
When I was a kid, my best friend’s house burnt down in a fire – a haunting memory that has stuck with me.
When I bought a house of my own, fire prevention was one of my main concerns. I would often think back to how my best friend’s family had lost everything in the flames and wonder how I could avoid such a tragedy myself. That is why I decided to have monitored smoke sensors installed in my home.
Many people rely on unmonitored smoke detectors, which will notify only those inside your home with a loud, audible beep when there is a fire. That’s a great option if you are at home, but what would happen if you were away on vacation or at work? By the time your neighbors see smoke billowing from your home, it is often too late to salvage the remains. Think of all those memories you would lose – pictures, family heirlooms. Those items cannot be replaced.
A monitored smoke detector makes a loud beeping noise, much like an unmonitored sensor. However, this type of system also alerts your monitoring center of the problem. From there, the monitoring center will call you and notify the proper authorities so they can either assist your family or help save your home.
Another added bonus to owning a monitored smoke detector is that your home insurance company may offer you additional discounts for making the choice to have your home protected by these sensors.
I saw the devastation that a house fire can cause. Monitored smoke sensors can help protect your family from knowing that same devastation.