February 17th, 2024 by WCBC Radio

The Cumberland Fire Department has had an increase in the number of calls for activated smoke alarms. Many times, the alarm has been discarded in the trash with the alarm sounding. Dust, dirt, and even spiders can get into an alarm and make it falsely sound. Smoke alarms can ve cleaned with a vacuum or compressed air.  Look at the back of the alarm to see if the manufacturer specifies one cleaning method over another and for cleaning frequency. 

Many new alarms have a hush/silence button that can be used to temporarily stop the alarm from sounding. Sealed battery smoke alarms have instructions and a deactivation switch on the back of the alarm. Malfunctioning and end of life smoke alarms should not be discarded without deactivation.