DES MOINES, Iowa —

October is National Fire Prevention Month, and a common safety tip shared by fire departments across the country is the importance of people checking their smoke alarms. KCCI spoke with the Des Moines Fire Department about the best maintenance steps for those alarms, as well as what people can do to better protect themselves in their homes as the winter months approach.

On Sunday, Des Moines fire crews responded to a house fire , where they rescued two people. According to the crews, there were no operating smoke detectors in the house.

Smoke alarms not working is an issue that Des Moines fire Capt. Laura Lyons says is more common than people think.

While most detectors have a 10-year lifespan, Lyons tells KCCI that the lifespan is specifically for the device and n

See Full Page