Moffat County Urges Residents to Check Black Smoke Detectors

“Stop using the detector immediately.”

That’s the direct order from Moffat County Public Health Department. They aren’t asking nicely. They’re telling residents to check their walls right now.

A specific model of smoke and carbon monoxide detector may fail to alarm when it needs to most. That’s the risk. If it doesn’t beep, you don’t know if smoke or carbon monoxide is creeping in. You’re flying blind.

The affected units are a 3-pack. Battery-powered. Black housing. Digital display. Dual sensors. You likely bought them on Amazon. Or maybe the county handed them out through a public health program. It doesn’t matter where they came from. What matters is that they might not work.

Moffat County issued this notice out of an abundance of caution. That’s the official phrase. But let’s be clear: a silent alarm is a silent alarm. It exposes occupants to unsafe conditions. The county wants you to know before a fire starts or CO levels rise.

Here is what you need to do.

First, check the model. Does it match the description? Black housing. Digital display. Dual smoke and carbon monoxide sensors. If it does, take it off the wall.

Second, ensure another working detector is installed. Don’t leave your home unprotected while you sort this out.

If you bought it on Amazon, there’s a specific process. You don’t just toss it. You mark it. Take a permanent marker. Write “DO NOT USE” in large, clear letters across the exterior. Do not skip this step.

Then, take a single photo. The whole product. The marking clearly visible. Upload it to Amazon’s Recalls and Product Safety Alerts page. Locate the order. Select “verify destruction for refund.”

Keep the marked unit until Amazon confirms verification. Once they do, dispose of it according to local and state waste laws. If you bought multiple units, each one needs its own mark and photo. Don’t batch them. Each unit is a potential failure point.

The county did not manufacture these detectors. They are just passing the word along. Technical questions go to Amazon or the manufacturer. Refunds, replacements, disposal — handle those directly with the retailer.

This notice applies only to specific models. Not every smoke alarm in your house is affected. But the ones that are? They are a gamble.

Read that again. The detectors may fail to alarm. They don’t have to fail completely. They just have to fail when you need them. A single missed alarm is enough to change your night.

Locals who received these through the county program should check their units now. Those who bought them independently on Amazon have a bit more work to do. Mark. Photo. Upload. Wait.

The short version: If it’s black, has a digital display, and says it detects both smoke and CO, it’s suspect. Take it down. Mark it. Get a refund. Get a working alarm.

Don’t wait for a press release to tell you your home is at risk. Check your walls.