Colington Volunteer Fire Department

Kill Devil Hills, NC

Smoke Alarm Information

Smoke Alarms

Smoke alarms save lives. Smoke alarms that are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing fire deaths and injuries. If there is a fire in your home, smoke spreads fast and you need smoke alarms to give you time to get out. Keep your family safe by installing smoke alarms and testing them monthly to make sure they work.

Smoke alarms are powered by battery or by your home’s electrical system. If the smoke alarm is powered by battery, it runs on either a disposable nine-volt battery or a non-replaceable 10-year lithium (“long-life”) battery. Alarms that get power from your home’s electrical system, or “hardwired,” usually have a back-up battery that will need to be replaced once a year.

Is your smoke alarm still working? A smoke alarm with a dead or missing battery is the same as having no smoke alarm at all. A smoke alarm only works when it is properly installed and regularly tested. Take care of your smoke alarms according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Below are some general maintenance tips.

Smoke alarm powered by a nine-volt battery

  • Test the alarm monthly.
  • Replace the batteries at least once every year.
  • Replace the entire smoke alarm every 10 years.

Smoke alarm powered by a 10-year lithium (or “long-life”) battery

  • Test the alarm monthly.
  • Since you cannot (and should not) replace the lithium battery, replace the entire smoke alarm according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Smoke alarm that is hardwired into your home’s electrical system

  • Test the alarm monthly.
  • Replace the backup battery at least once every year.
  • Replace the entire smoke alarm every 10 years.
  • Three out of five home fire deaths in 2009-2013 were caused by fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
  • Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fires in half.
  • In fires considered large enough to activate the smoke alarm, hardwired alarms operated 94% of the time, while battery powered alarms operated 80% of the time.
  • When smoke alarms fail to operate, it is usually because batteries are missing, disconnected, or dead.
  • An ionization smoke alarm is generally more responsive to flaming fires and a photoelectric smoke alarm is generally more responsive to smoldering fires. For the best protection, or where extra time is needed to awaken or assist others, both types of alarms, or combination ionization and photoelectric alarms are recommended.

Not sure about your smoke alarm?  Our firefighters will come to your home and do a courtesy inspection.  Simply call the station at 252-441-6234 to schedule a visit.

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Kill Devil Hills, NC
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70% humidity
wind: 16mph SW
H 50 • L 43
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Colington Volunteer Fire Department

1 week ago

Colington Volunteer Fire Department

CVFD is in need of folks to serve the community as Volunteer Firefighters. ... See MoreSee Less

Volunteers needed
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Colington Volunteer Fire Department

2 weeks ago

Colington Volunteer Fire Department

We're hiring! The CVFD has an opening for career Firefighter / EMT. Applications may be picked up at the station until February 1, 2021. ... See MoreSee Less

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Colington Volunteer Fire Department

4 weeks ago

Colington Volunteer Fire Department

Merry Christmas everyone! Especially all of our friends in public safety that are working to keep us safe, and not able to be home with their families and the volunteers ready to respond at a moments notice.

Fire, police, EMS, telecommunicators and of course our military, Thank You!
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Merry Christmas everyone!  Especially all of our friends in public safety that are working to keep us safe, and not able to be home with their families and the volunteers ready to respond at a moments notice.  Fire, police, EMS, telecommunicators and of course our military,  Thank You!
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Merry Christmas to the amazing fire department who made Peyton’s day, thank you for all you do!

Everyone have a Merry Christmas.

Thank you all! Merry Christmas 🎅

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! I hope you saved some desserts. Lol

Merry Christmas and thank you!

Merry Christmas from Texas..

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2021 Monthly Calls

MonthEMSFire
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Total

2020 Monthly Calls

MonthEMSFire
Jan2615
Feb2413
Mar3117
Apr219
May2420
Jun2818
Jul3728
Aug3834
Sep3218
Oct4214
Nov4222
Dec3612
Total381220

Contact Information

Colington Volunteer Fire Department
108 Schoolhouse Rd
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948

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Emergency: 911
Phone: 252.441.6234

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