New Rules For Marion Co. Smoke Detectors

There soon will be new rules for smoke detectors in Marion County.

The City County Council approved the changes, Monday.

Starting August 1, residents must have a 10-year, non-removable, non-replaceable battery operated detector. Those currently with other kinds can keep them, but must upgrade to the new requirement once they expire.

Councilor Mary Moriarty-Adams says people are removing batteries and putting them in electronics or taking them out when the detector starts beeping. She believes the new rules will mean more homes with working detectors.

"What this will do is, because it's a 10-year battery, folks won't have to worry about changing it out," said Moriarty Adams.  "They just remove the whole unit when it starts to give off its chirping sound that the battery is expiring in the unit.  They will take down the whole unit and just go buy another one and put it up there."

She says those type of detectors cost about $15 and the Indianapolis Fire Department will offer them for free to low income families.

The new requirement only will apply to homes, town homes and duplexes, for now.

So far this year, 12 people have died in the county from fires.  In only one case was there a working detector.