TELL YOUR LANDLORD: AS OF JAN. 1, 2013, IT'S THE LAW TO INSTALL A CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM FOR YOU!

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January 2, 2013 (San Diego) -- Without carbon monoxide alarms, one neighbor’s faulty appliance in a multi-family dwelling can easily become a tragedy that affects ALL tenants. The California Office of the State Fire Marshal cited a recent study that found nearly nine in 10 California households do NOT have a CO alarm

All multi-family dwelling units, such as apartments, are required to have a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm by January 1, 2013. Landlords are responsible for installation, so for tenants whose units do not have a CO alarm, now is the time to remind your landlord by requesting one.

Failure to equip a property with CO alarms puts families in danger, and is a violation of State law that is punishable by a maximum fine of $200 for each offense. (As of July 1, 2011, State law also requires owners of single-family homes with attached garages or fossil fuel sources to install CO alarms.)

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is produced from heaters, fireplaces, furnaces, and many types of appliances and cooking devices. The only way to detect the poisonous and potentially fatal gas is with an alarm.

More than 300 alarms have been donated by First Alert to support this educational outreach. Learn more about California’s CO alarm law at www.firstalert.com/california.


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