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Crime & Safety

Carbon Monoxide Detectors Mandatory July 1: CAL FIRE

City and fire officials are reaching out to the public in an effort to reach full compliance.

State and county fire officials across California are reminding home owners of a new law that will take affect July 1 that requires carbon monoxide detectors inside their home.

Previously, only new homes were required to have the detectors installed, according to a Cal Fire news release.

But passage of the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act - Senate Bill 183 - means all single-family dwellings with attached garages, or fossil fuel sources, must install the devices, according to Cal Fire.

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"Carbon monoxide is a silent killer, each year claiming the lives of an average of 480 people, and sending more than 20,000 people to emergency rooms across the nation," Acting State Fire Marshal Tonya Hoover said in the release.

Owners, tenants and managers of apartments and multi-family leased buildings will have until Jan. 1, 2013, to install the devices in their units, according to Cal Fire.

Find out what's happening in Banning-Beaumontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Violation of the law carries a $200 fine for each offense.

A Cal Fire fact sheet on carbon monoxide poisoning is attached to this report as a pdf.

For a list of approved devices, check the state fire marshal's office website.

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