OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office is urging residents to ensure their homes are equipped with working smoke alarms after new data highlighted their role in saving lives during house fires.
According to state fire agencies, 60 percent of residential fire fatalities in 2024 occurred in dwellings without functioning smoke alarms. The National Fire Protection Association reports that the chances of surviving a home fire double when alarms are present and operational.
State law, RCW 43.44.110, requires smoke detection devices in homes occupied by individuals other than the owner after December 31, 1981, in dwellings built or manufactured after December 31, 1980, and in homes sold after July 1, 2019. The law also mandates that smoke detectors meet national standards for design and installation. Property owners are required to install at least one working alarm, while tenants must maintain the devices and replace batteries as needed.
“Every second counts during a home fire,” the Fire Marshal’s Office said, urging residents to confirm their alarms are in working condition.
For more information, residents can contact the State Fire Marshal’s Office at (360) 596-3904.