The Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) issued an urgent public safety reminder on 28 January 2026 asking residents in Sittingbourne, Kent, to replace smoke alarms that are more than ten years old.
KFRS warns the sensors inside smoke alarms degrade over time and may not detect smoke properly, even if the device still sounds when the test button is pressed. According to BBC reporting — quoting Suzanna Amberski, Head of Customer and Building Safety at KFRS — people are about 10 times more likely to die in a fire if there isn’t a working smoke alarm in the property.
KFRS said the reminder follows a kitchen fire in Sittingbourne on 28 January 2026 in which an alarm previously fitted by the service alerted the family and helped them escape. The reminder also follows a bedroom fire in Murston (Wild Ash Croft) on 30 December 2024, reported by SFM Radio and local outlets, which required multiple appliances to attend and underlined winter risks.
Landlords are being reminded of their legal duties under the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm regulations to ensure alarms are in date and working for their tenants. KFRS is offering free ‘Safe and Well’ / home fire safety visits to eligible and vulnerable residents — providing checks, advice and, where appropriate, replacement alarms.
Residents are advised to check the ‘replace by’ or expiry date on the back or side of the alarm (you may need to remove the unit from its mounting to read it). Anyone worried about their fire safety or who needs a replacement can call KFRS on 0800 923 7000 to request a free home safety visit.
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