Smoke detectors prevent worse things from happening: false alarm on Hubertusstrasse!

Smoke detectors prevent worse things from happening: false alarm on Hubertusstrasse!

On Saturday there was a spectacular fire brigade operation on Hubertusstrasse, which fortunately went without injuries thanks to an attentive smoke alarm. When an alarm sounded in the apartment building, residents quickly responded and called the fire department and emergency services.

A look into the affected apartment on the first floor revealed heavily smoked rooms, although the apartment was unoccupied at the time of the operation. The emergency services entered the apartment without violence by using a key left with a neighbor. What had happened? A burning paper calendar on the windowsill had caught a neighboring houseplant and started a smoldering fire. Initial investigations by the criminal police indicate that a mirror on the window sill focused the light of the setting sun and thus caused the fire.

Damage limited by acting quickly

Thanks to the quick intervention of the neighbors and the fire department, something worse was quickly prevented. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire and used an electric fan to clear the smoke from the apartment. The environmental service carried out pollutant measurements, which fortunately did not reveal any abnormalities. However, an exact amount of damage is still pending and investigations into the cause of the fire are continuing to be carried out by the criminal police.

The Dresden Fire Department also sees the situation as an opportunity to share important recommendations for fire prevention, especially before vacation trips. This includes not leaving mirrors and glass objects open in direct sunlight, switching off electrical devices before departure and regularly checking the functionality of smoke alarms. The non plus ultra are the following recommendations:

• Rauchen oder brennbare Materialien fernhalten von Fensterbänken und Heizquellen.
• Ofen und Herd vor Verlassen der Wohnung unbedingt ausschalten.
• Mülleimer entleeren, vor allem wenn sie brennbare Inhalte haben.
• Die Wohnungstüren und Fenster schließen, um Brandausbreitung oder das Eindringen von Regen und Wind zu verhindern.

The role of smoke alarms

But how does a smoke alarm actually work? These devices are real lifesavers because they not only protect objects, but primarily people. A smoke alarm continuously monitors the room air and sounds an alarm when a certain smoke concentration is reached. They are particularly important at night when residents are in a deep sleep. These devices usually consist of a smoke chamber that uses a laser to emit light beams. As soon as smoke particles interrupt this beam of light, an alarm is triggered.

In Germany there are different types of smoke detectors, including optoelectronic detectors and smart home variants, which are now very popular. It is important to know that in many federal states, including Saxony, there is an obligation to install such smoke alarms in bedrooms and escape routes. The owner is responsible for this, whereas in rental apartments the landlord is often responsible.

You see, smoke alarms can not only save lives, but also drastically reduce the risk of fire damage. It is therefore advisable to regularly check their functionality and to remain calm in the event of false alarms - safety comes first!

For more information about how smoke alarms work and the importance of them, you can visit x-sense.