Check your smoke detectors

By Mark Reynolds
Posted 12/11/19

The Town of Lloyd’s Deputy Building Inspector Anthony Giangrasso is on a mission to make sure that every home in town has enough smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. He said residents should …

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Check your smoke detectors

Posted

The Town of Lloyd’s Deputy Building Inspector Anthony Giangrasso is on a mission to make sure that every home in town has enough smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. He said residents should also have fire extinguishers readily available.

Giangrasso lets the public know about the importance of these detectors, “at least two or three times a year but it seems the word does not get out.” He said he often finds during his annual inspections many buildings that have no alarms of any kind and he has them comply. He pointed out that today batteries for smoke detectors have a 10 year life span and are intentionally made so they cannot be accessed or disabled by the public.

Giangrasso said a smoke alarm is required in every bedroom and immediately outside the bedroom areas, such as in a hallway. Carbon Monoxide detectors are also required on every level of a home that has a possible source of CO, which is a colorless, odorless and tasteless flammable gas that is slightly less dense than air.

Giangrasso said a coordinated plan to push for installing these detectors is being developed by his department along with the assistance of the fire and police departments to get the word out that these detectors save lives.

“Public awareness is key,” he said. “It’s educating people out there who have no clue.”

As part of his job, Giangrasso goes to fire calls and often finds homes with no alarms or have had their batteries removed.

Giangrasso said the large stores in town like Hannafords and Lowe’s all have the required alarms.

Giangrasso recently made a pitch to the Highland Rotary Club for their organization to write a grant for up to $2,000 for the purchase of these detectors and to install them for families in need. He will also be reaching out to the American Red Cross in Poughkeepsie, “to help us get this program rolling too.”

For additional information or assistance, Giangrasso can be reached at Town Hall (845) 691-2735 ext. 116.