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The United States has a serious and substantial fire problem. Roughly once every one and one half seconds an unreported fire occurs. Nearly once every minute somewhere in America there is a home fire serious enough to warrant calling the fire department. Smoke detectors can detect a fire early on so firefighters have more time to attack the fire and save the dwelling. A smoke detector can potentially save lives. There are many different aspects of smoke detectors in this paper I will discuss many of them. Theory of Smoke Detectors A smoke detector is a device used in homes and other buildings to warn people of smoke or a fire. It makes a loud buzzing noise within seconds after smoke enters it through special vents. There are two kinds of smoke detectors, ionization detectors, and photoelectric detectors. History of Smoke Detectors In the 1960s the average U.S. citizen had never heard of smoke detectors. By 1993, an estimated 92 percent of all American homes, single and multi-family apartments, houses, and dormitories were equipped with detectors. In the mid 1980s smoke detector laws, requiring that detectors be placed in all new and existing residents, existed in 38 states nationwide. Smoke detector previsions have been