Working smoke alarms are known to reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by 50%. For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, audible smoke alarms cannot alert a person to a fire. Fortunately, there are smoke alarms made for people who are deaf such as a smoke alarm with a flashing strobe light.
Seattle residents who are deaf may qualify for a free strobe smoke alarm that plugs into an outlet. The Seattle Fire Department will install the strobe smoke alarm at no cost. We can provide one strobe alarm per person and the alarm must be installed in the bedroom.
To qualify, a person must be deaf and live in Seattle. There is no cost for the smoke alarm and its installation.
Update: 9/26/2024 – The strobe alarm has been discontinued.
Learn more about smoke alarms (with American Sign Language)