Smoke Alarm Installation and Home Safety Program

IMPORTANT:
  • If this is an EMERGENCY, call 911.
  • If you have an urgent or immediate need related to your smoke alarms, please call Montgomery County's non-emergency phone number at 301-279-8000.
  • Please click on the link in the graphic below to request in-person, virtual assistance or to speak with our team.    

Request a home safety check

Smoke Alarm Installation Program

Having working smoke alarms properly installed in your home can dramatically increase the chances of surviving a fire. The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) offers free home safety checks to residents of Montgomery County, Maryland.

Fire Safety Tips:

  • Check your smoke alarms: Test each smoke alarm monthly to make certain they are working.
  • Count your smoke alarms: We recommend installing a smoke alarm inside each sleeping room, in the areas outside each sleeping room and on every level of your home.
  • Vacuum your smoke alarms: Clean and dust smoke alarms each month to help keep them functioning properly.
  • Change your batteries: Change the batteries in each smoke alarm at least twice a year (during daylight savings) or as soon as the alarm “chirps” indicating the battery is low. Many newer smoke alarms have a ten-year battery sealed in the unit that will last for the life of the alarm and the batteries do not need to be changed. 
  • Change your alarm: Replace each smoke alarm every ten years and your carbon monoxide alarm according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Know the sound: Ensure each person in the home can hear and recognize the sound of the smoke alarm and knows how to react immediately. Assistive devices are available for those who are deaf or have other special needs.