Briefs

NYC implements carbon monoxide detector law NEW YORK - Starting in November, all multiple and private dwellings, in addition to educational facilities, in the city of New York were required by law to install carbon monoxide detectors. First Alert has donated 60,000 detectors to the Fire Department of New York Fire Safety Education Fund to help support compliance to the new law. The company will provide 20,000 detectors over the next three years. Local Law 7 of 2004 was passed by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg in May. UTC receives approval to increase stake in Kidde HARTFORD, Conn. - United Technologies Corp. has received approval to increase its stake in Kidde plc to 30 percent from 2.6 percent. In talks since this summer, Kidde rejected an earlier proposal to be acquired in whole by UTC in an all-cash deal, claiming the offer was too low. UTC offered to pay GBP 160 ($293) per share for the company. Kidde, a U.K.-based manufacturer of fire and safety products and systems, was formed when Williams was divided into two companies: Kidde and Chubb. Chubb is the fire protection and security division at UTC. Survey finds tornadoes trump fire in fear factor QUINCY, Mass. - According to a survey commissioned by the National Fire Protection Association, more Americans feel at risk from a tornado than a fire when asked what disaster they fear most. Of the 1,014 polled by Harris Interactive, 31 percent said they fear risk from tornado damage and 27 percent felt the same about fire. Last year, 3,925 people were killed as a result of fire, the association said, whereas the average amount of deaths contributed to tornadoes is roughly 70 individuals annually. The survey also found 96 percent of those who responded to the survey have fire alarms, but only 25 percent have rehearsed an escape plan in preparation of a fire.