Smoke Emergency Declared on June 13, 2025; Proprietor Despite Obligation Remains Non-Compliant with Smoke Notification Duty (VdF-NRW)

In a residential fire, it's not the flames that pose the greatest danger, but the toxic smoke that can be fatal with just three breaths. This stark reality has prompted a call to action from insurance companies and fire safety organisations across Germany.

VdF NRW and Provinzial Insurance are urging homeowners to check their living spaces for adequate smoke alarm installation. However, a significant portion of the population remains unprotected, despite clear legal requirements, as highlighted by the Association of Fire Brigades in NRW e.V.

Christoph Dohr, head of the damage prevention and risk assessment department at Provinzial Insurance, emphasizes the crucial role of smoke alarms in maintaining safety. He stresses that a timely warning from a smoke alarm can save lives in an emergency and minimize the consequences of a fire. Installing and maintaining smoke alarms, he adds, shows responsibility towards oneself, family, and community.

Smoke alarms detect dangerous smoke early and give residents valuable seconds to escape. They are particularly important in alerting people during night-time fires when they might be asleep. The spokesperson for the area of fire safety education and public relations at the Firefighting Association NRW, Jana Becker, reiterates this point, stating that smoke alarms are the most effective measure to warn people in their sleep in time of a fire.

According to Maria Marschner, spokesperson for fire safety education and awareness from VdF NRW, many owners underestimate the risk of fire and the importance of smoke alarms. She urges homeowners to ensure their properties are adequately equipped with smoke alarms, particularly in bedrooms, children's rooms, and corridors serving as escape routes.

If necessary, homeowners should retrofit their properties with tested smoke alarms. Regular maintenance of smoke alarms is also important, and devices should be replaced every ten years.

Smoke Alarm Day, traditionally held on a Friday the 13th, is intended to emphasize the life-saving significance of smoke alarms in emergency situations. The aim of Smoke Alarm Day is to highlight gaps in the implementation of legal smoke alarm requirements across the 16 federal states of Germany.

For press inquiries, contact Maria Marschner from the Association of Fire Brigades in NRW e.V., located at Windhukstraße 8, 42277 Wuppertal. Her email address is [email protected].

Let's take this opportunity to ensure our homes are safe and secure. Let's make sure we have the right tools to protect ourselves and our loved ones. Let's make Smoke Alarm Day a day of action.

Smoke Emergency Declared on June 13, 2025; Proprietor Despite Obligation Remains Non-Compliant with Smoke Notification Duty (VdF-NRW)