At 0710 hrs on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 the Bergenfield Fire Department was dispatched to a private residence on Rector Court for a carbon monoxide alarm activation.  A daytime still alarm consisting of two engines, ladder, and command officer responded to the call.  Upon arrival the resident reported waking to an activated alarm from her plug-in carbon monoxide detector.  Utilizing air monitoring equipment firefighters checked the premises and determined that no carbon monoxide levels were present.  By using two different air monitoring devices the fire department is able to ensure that the equipment is working properly, especially if no hazards are initially detected.  In this case the carbon monoxide alarm was just over 10-years old and was sounding a malfunction which is consistent with the end of its useful service life.  The resident was advised to replace the alarm with a new unit and all apparatus was available from the scene within 20-minutes.

Residents are reminded that both smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms have a limited life expectancy.  Like most other electronic devices or appliances in our homes these alarms have a limited life cycle and their reliability can deteriorate over time.  Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms should be replaced before they reach 10-years of service or at any point when they malfunction or suffer physical damage.  The statistical safety value of properly maintained smoke and carbon monoxide  alarms far exceeds their initial cost as they have a proven track record of detecting smoke and hazards before occupants are seriously injured or killed.

If you are elderly, handicapped, or otherwise unable to check your alarms and change the batteries please contact the Bergenfield Fire Department, Fire Prevention Bureau at (201) 387-4055 Ext. 4074 to request assistance.  The Bergenfield Fire Department does not charge for its responses to emergency calls or to assist residents.  Please feel free to call upon us at any time if a fire occurs or if you suspect a hazardous condition exists with your appliances or utilities.