A new Maryland law approved by Gov. Martin O’Malley takes effect July 1. It requires battery-operated smoke alarms in homes have batteries that last ten years. State fire officials hope the new technology and the new law will save lives.
Without a smoke alarm or working smoke alarm, firefighters warn house fires are often deadly. That was the case in February when a house fire devastated a Glenarden family.
“Four people died in that home, the Price family,” says Marc Bashoor, Prince George’s County fire chief. “We did not find one smoke alarm in that home.”
I really don't think a ten year battery would have helped much...
So I guess they are going to come inspect everyones house, open all the smoke detectors and fine you if you have the wrong batteries.
And insurance companies will start disallowing claims because after a fire they discovered a 9 volt Duracell in the basement smoke detector.
When our kitchen caught fire back in 2000, the smoke detectors didn't even sound until we had put out the fire with extinguishers. Our Dalmatian alerted us.
I wonder if CO2 detectors are included in the bill.