Smoke Detector Program

Having working smoke detectors saves lives. Unfortunately, every year we respond for fires in residences that do not have detectors that work. If you are asleep when a fire occurs, the odds of you waking up are very slim if you do not have a working smoke detector. When we sleep, our sense of smell does not work. The only thing that will wake us up is light and noise. Smoke detectors are designed to wake us up if we are sleeping when a fire occurs.

In an effort to maintain a high level of customer service, the City of Waukesha Fire Department has come up with a smoke detector program to help alleviate the problem of people (especially the elderly) not having working smoke detectors. If you do not have a working smoke detector in your one or two-family residence and cannot afford one, do not know where to install one, or cannot install or maintain one due to a physical limitation or disability, contact the City of Waukesha Fire Department's Fire Prevention Bureau and we will arrange to have a smoke detector installed for you.

If you live in a multi-family dwelling (three-family or more), State law requires the landlord replace or repair defective detectors within five days of being notified by a tenant. If you have a problem with a smoke detector, notify your landlord. If nothing is done to correct the deficiency within five days, notify the City of Waukesha Fire Department's Fire Prevention Bureau and we will work with the landlord to remedy the problem.