Burned trailer had no smoke detectors

Published: Thursday, December 26, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. Last Modified: Thursday, December 26, 2013 at 7:11 p.m.

There were no smoke alarms in the trailer where three children died in a Christmas morning fire and several others were hurt, authorities said.

Installation tips: Experts offer the following tips when installing smoke alarms:

--- Sleeping areas need the most protection. One detector in a short hallway outside the bedroom is usually adequate. Hallways longer than 30 feet need one at each end. The best is a detector in each bedroom.

--- Keep the detector away from fireplaces, wood stoves and cooking areas to avoid false alarms. Dont remove the batteries after repeated false alarms, leaving family members without protection.

--- Place smoke detectors at the top of each stairwell. Smoke rises easily through stairwells. )( You can mount many detectors by yourself, but those connected to the household wiring should have their own separate circuit and be installed by a professional electrician.

--- If you mount your detector on the ceiling, keep it at least 18 inches away from walls and corners. On a wall, place it 6 to 12 inches below the ceiling and away from corners. Keep them high because smoke rises.

--- Never place them closer than 3 feet from an air register that might re-circulate smoke. Dont place them near doorways or windows where drafts could impair the detector operation. Dont place them on an uninsulated exterior wall or ceiling; temperature extremes can affect the batteries.

The fire at 120 Whispering Oaks Court, a trailer park on Main Street near East Street in Houma, killed a 13-year-old girl, her two brothers, ages 11 and 12, and landed both parents in a Baton Rouge burn center, authorities said. Seven other family members were treated and released.

Authorities say the survivors of Wednesdays fatal blaze told them they didnt know there was a fire until smoke seeped down the hall and underneath a closed bedroom door.

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Burned trailer had no smoke detectors