State Fire Marshal, John W. Rudd, has ordered a Burning Ban, beginning October 15, 2024, for all outdoor burning, as current conditions throughout the State of Delaware are extremely dry and pose a fire hazard. Effective immediately, the following are prohibited: bonfires, controlled burnings (including burning of leaves and yard waste), agricultural burnings, fires for land clearing, fires for demolition and removal of hazards, and outdoor rubbish fires (whether or not contained). More Info

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Battery Operated Smoke Detectors

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There are two types of smoke detector technologies available, ionization smoke detectors and photoetectric smoke detectors. Because there is no way to predict when a fire will start or the type of fire that may occur in your home, it is recommended that both (ionization and photoelectric) technologies be used in homes.

Ionization smoke detectors are generally more responsive to flaming fires.

How they work: Ionization-type smoke detectors have a small amount of radioactive material between two electrically charged plates, which ionizes the air and causes current to flow between the plates. When smoke enters the chamber, it disrupts the flow of ions, thus reducing the flow of current and activating the alarm.

See NFPA’s Chart on Ionization Smoke Detectors

Photoelectric smoke detectors are generally more responsive to fires that begin with a long period of smoldering.

How they work: Photoelectric-type detectors aim a light source into a sensing chamber at an angle away from the sensor. Smoke enters the chamber, reflecting light onto the light sensor; triggering the alarm.

See NFPA’s Chart on Photo Electric Smoke Detectors

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