by John Lauinger, Edgar Sandoval and Daniel Edward Rosen
Scared neighbors in Brooklyn snapped up free smoke detectors Sunday from the Fire Department, which handed out 200 alarms in just over an hour.
Residents said they were frightened, and with reason: The Bensonhurst fire is shaping up to be a prime example of why smoke detectors are necessary. Miguel Chan, who lost his wife in the fire, said there were smoke detectors in the family's apartment, but no working batteries.
"You must change your battery every six months," said Lt. John Fiumano as he gave out pamphlets in the area. "If you don't, look what you got: You're throwing babies out the window."
Angelica Chen was persuaded to get a new smoke detector.
"I'm a really deep sleeper," said Chen, 25, who works at a Starbucks on Wall St. "I need something loud to wake me up."
Roughly half of all fatal fires in the city involved a building that did not have functioning smoke detectors, says the Fire Department.
They are also required by law, according to thecity Housing Preservation and Development Department.
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