WHITESBORO, N.Y. (WKTV) - Recent fatal fires are bringing renewed attention to the importance of smoke detectors, both having them and maintaining them.

David Jacobowitz, former Whitesboro Fire Chief and now with New York's Fireman's Association, says detectors are essentially watchdogs of your safety, letting you know when danger may be lurking. "These things save lives it's been proven," Jacobowitz said.

Sadly we have seen a fire's sometimes fatal consequences in Upstate New York twice this past weekend alone. In Oswego County eight people died in a home without smoke detectors. "It's hard to tell if it would have saved their lives, who knows, but it is a better chance," Jacobowitz said.

Here are some tips:
-Don't remove the batteries unless changing them
-Check them twice a year
-Change the batteries at least once a year
-Make sure there is a detector on every level of the home and in bedrooms

Remember, a fire can double in size in just minutes, smoke detectors are among your best defense.