Smoke Detector Ordinance

In one Schuylkill County community if you don't have a smoke detectors in your home or apartment you're breaking the law.

Alan Miller lives near Tamaqua and knows what fire can do and the importance of smoke detectors.

"I had a house in New York that burned down on me once and it scared me," Miller said, adding he didn't have smoke detectors in the home. Luckily no one was home and no one got hurt.

Rush Township has just passed a law that mandates every home and apartment have a working smoke detector.

"We're not going to be going in knocking on doors trying to see if everyone has one but if there is a fire at someone's house and the firemen are in there and notice there is no smoke detector, there are ways to enforce it," said township supervisor Steve Simchak.

The fine for not having a smoke detector is $300.

"That's a little steep but every family has their own way of taking care of themselves," said Dorothy Blasko.

"I think that's a fair idea. If there is no smoke detector definitely. Why take a chance at losing a life?" said Tina McAloose.

The fire chief is serious about smoke detectors. He said if someone dies in a fire and there was no smoke detector present the person responsible could be charged criminally.

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