Home Smoke Detector Program

The SMFD goal is to have working smoke detectors in every home in San Marcos. In the event of a fire, a smoke alarm can save your life and those of your loved ones. Smoke detectors are the single most important means of preventing house and apartment fire fatalities by providing an early warning signal, so you and your family can escape.  

Smoke detectors are donated to SMFD from the Citizen's Fire Academy.  The program is designed to take care of residents in need of assistance (financially, handicapped, and elderly). 

Free battery-operated smoke detectors are available for City of San Marcos homeowners, living within the City limits. If you need to request a battery-operated smoke detector installation or have your home smoke detector batteries checked or changed, SMFD can help. If possible, please provide your own smoke detector and/or batteries. 

Renters: If you're a renter, please contact your landlord. Smoke detectors are to be provided by the property owner. Texas law does make landlords responsible for installing and maintaining smoke detectors in their units. There should be at least one smoke detector outside of each bedroom. We do not provide units to renters. 

For newly built homes: If your home is equipped with an electrical smoke detector system (hard-wired systems), please contact a licensed electrician to make any repairs. Many people do not realize that electric detectors can be equipped with batteries. If your electric smoke detector is beeping intermittently and you cannot figure out how to stop it, check the battery compartment. Remove the battery if one exists, and replace with a new one. A battery is not necessary for an electric smoke detector to work, but it is necessary during power failures. The battery will keep the detector working even during power outages - if the battery is changed on a regular basis.

• Smoke Detector Online Request Form

Fire officials recommend to change the batteries in all of your smoke detectors on the same day you change the clock for Daylight Saving Time "spring forward" or Standard Time "fall back."

Remember, Smoke Detectors Save Lives!