EAST LONGMEADOW, Mass. - The Western Massachusetts Fire Chiefs Association is strongly encouraging residents to use smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors after several people died in fires last year. 

"A total of 45 people lost their lives to fire in Massachusetts last year," said Massachusetts Fire Marshal John Davine. "And nearly 70% of those deaths took place in the home. Two-thirds of those fire victims were older adults, 65 and up, and tragically more than half of those homes that had fatal fires did not have working smoke alarms."

Association vice president and Westfield Fire Chief Patrick Egloff said more than half of the residential fire deaths took place between March and April of 2023, with 30% of those casualties taking place in western Massachusetts.

Easthampton Fire Chief Chris Norris said the smoke detectors should be checked every spring and fall when changing clocks for the season.

"If you don't remember when you installed your smoke alarms, take a look today," Norris said. "The manufacturing date is printed on the back of the device. Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years. If your alarm was made before February 2014 or if there is no date at all, it is time to replace it."

The association said carbon monoxide has also been a serious issue, being one of the leading causes of accidental poisoning deaths in the country. Wilbraham Fire Chief Michael Andrews said CO is created by burning fuel which usually comes from home heating equipment and can be life threatening.

"Here in Massachusetts, more than 350 people end up in the emergency room each year because of CO poisoning," Andrews said. "What makes CO so dangerous is that we can't see it, smell it or taste it."

Andrews said it's vital that all residents have working CO alarms in their homes, while checking them every month and changing the batteries at least twice a year.

"These alarms need to be replaced every usually every five, seven or ten years," he said. "Check the manufacturer's instructions or look up the make and model online to find out. And finally, if you hear them going off,  get outside and dial 911. Don't disable them or write them off as a malfunction. Let us check with our meters to make sure it's safe."